So many cool stories continue to happen to Billy Ray.
He and Bill have been invited to England to hob nob with royalty. Some order has granted honorary status to them and has invited them to come meet the dutchess. (My apologies to our cousins across the big pond for not knowing the specifics. I'm sure I've butchered the story in many ways.)
Last Sunday, Billy Ray was reunited with his brother and sisters on NBC's Today Show. He was quite surprised! Here's the link if you haven't seen it. http://www.today.com/id/51240194/ns/today-good_news/t/reunited-family-homeless-man-who-returned-ring-says-hes-got-it-all/ While in NYC, Billy Ray enjoyed meeting some of Sarah's relatives, one of which was an astronaut. From what I hear, they had quite the conversation!
Some of you have found the YouTube link of Billy Ray addressing my class in Kansas City a few weeks ago. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5QCLaNgJ8o.
He tells a wonderful story of witnessing "pay it forward" came full circle in his presence.
Thank you for your continued interest in Billy Ray! He sends his love to all of you!
Apparently...
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Apparently Heroes Fail
My friend, Steve Peifer, is my hero. He was also CNN's hero of the year in 2007 for feeding children in Kenya. He and Nancy lost a child that was only a few days old, and their lives changed forever from a prosperous job with Oracle to getting lost in Africa. There they found their souls again.
Officially, Steve serves as a high school guidance counselor at Rift Valley Academy. Unofficially, he initiated a feeding program that once fed 23,000 children one meal a day...children who couldn't stand up by Thursday because they hadn't eaten since Monday. He also introduced computers to schools that don't have electricity. His computer centers are powered by the sun. One child heard about her opportunity to learn about computers, and she said, "I never had a dream so big."
I had coffee with Steve in 2011 after a few years of downturn in the world economy. Donations from the USA had fallen to the point that Steve was able only to feed 13,000 children in Kenya the previous year. What do you say to a hero who has tears in his eyes and tells you, "I feel like such a failure." If he's a failure, then what am I?
Steve's book comes out tomorrow/today. Be forwarned. Steve is a nut! Here is an excerpt from an email I got today.
Want another grab-your-heart story? Check out his book. Steve promised his African-adopted daughter that she could have a pony if the book became a #1 Best Seller. I'd like to bet on that horse!
Officially, Steve serves as a high school guidance counselor at Rift Valley Academy. Unofficially, he initiated a feeding program that once fed 23,000 children one meal a day...children who couldn't stand up by Thursday because they hadn't eaten since Monday. He also introduced computers to schools that don't have electricity. His computer centers are powered by the sun. One child heard about her opportunity to learn about computers, and she said, "I never had a dream so big."
I had coffee with Steve in 2011 after a few years of downturn in the world economy. Donations from the USA had fallen to the point that Steve was able only to feed 13,000 children in Kenya the previous year. What do you say to a hero who has tears in his eyes and tells you, "I feel like such a failure." If he's a failure, then what am I?
Steve's book comes out tomorrow/today. Be forwarned. Steve is a nut! Here is an excerpt from an email I got today.
We had pizza the other night,
and I got to slice one of them. I was rather rudely mocked by my children
because my slices weren't equal in size. On another day, we were invited to a
friend's home for pizza. Jim was a commander of a nuclear sub; now he is helping
to expand the mission hospital. As I looked at his unequal pieces, it occurred
to me that I could have been a commander of a nuclear sub.
Want another grab-your-heart story? Check out his book. Steve promised his African-adopted daughter that she could have a pony if the book became a #1 Best Seller. I'd like to bet on that horse!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Apparently Billy Ray is a Public Speaker
My travels took me back to Kansas City this week. No longer is this a city in which I have no friends. Billy Ray and I spent the whole time together, including a seminar I taught on Monday.
He believes that these events have happened to him so that he can communicate a message of hope, love, and service to others. We discussed the possibility of some speaking engagements in the future, and I had the privilege of witnessing his first opportunity. My class gave up their lunch time to hear Billy Ray speak. He communicated humbly and eloquently.
Tonight Billy Ray called to tell about an interview he did with a radio station in Minnesota. Afterwards, they invited him to come there to speak to teenagers. He accepted on the condition that they wait for warmer weather! Plans are in the works for a summer visit!
What does the future hold? No one knows for sure. However, if you'd like for Billy Ray to come speak at one of your events, feel free to contact him through this venue.
Thank you for your beautiful comments about my first encounter with Billy Ray. I will respond individually in the next few days. You have touched my heart! Thank you Bill Krejci for setting up giveforward.com/billyray. And thank you, Billy Ray, for being the angel we have had the privilege of entertaining unaware!
He believes that these events have happened to him so that he can communicate a message of hope, love, and service to others. We discussed the possibility of some speaking engagements in the future, and I had the privilege of witnessing his first opportunity. My class gave up their lunch time to hear Billy Ray speak. He communicated humbly and eloquently.
Tonight Billy Ray called to tell about an interview he did with a radio station in Minnesota. Afterwards, they invited him to come there to speak to teenagers. He accepted on the condition that they wait for warmer weather! Plans are in the works for a summer visit!
What does the future hold? No one knows for sure. However, if you'd like for Billy Ray to come speak at one of your events, feel free to contact him through this venue.
Thank you for your beautiful comments about my first encounter with Billy Ray. I will respond individually in the next few days. You have touched my heart! Thank you Bill Krejci for setting up giveforward.com/billyray. And thank you, Billy Ray, for being the angel we have had the privilege of entertaining unaware!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Apparently a Homeless Man Has Much to Offer
Recently Billy Ray Harris, a homeless man in Kansas City, made national news for his honesty and integrity. As a way of saying thank you, many have donated to a fund to help this worthy individual (see http://www.giveforward.com/billyray/). Billy Ray has been a friend of mine since 2008. The following is a personal journal entry I made in 2008 on the night I met Billy Ray.
Apparently a Homeless Man Has Much to Offer
Apparently a Homeless Man Has Much to Offer
Tonight I have been so lonely and empty. I interviewed
tod ay for a job in Kansas City , a city I d on't
know, all alone, feeling the hurt of some very special people in my life.
I d id n't
have anyone to talk to, no one to eat d inner
with, no one to d o something
with...all at a time that should be
very exciting because of other things going on.
Lonely...empty. I can't take this job even it it's offered . I would n't
be able to stand this kind of loneliness while traveling. Then again,
I'd be lonely anywhere right now no
matter who I was with.
I asked
the d esk clerk where I could go to d inner
where I could be around other people. He d irected me to a place called
Country Club Plaza. As I arrived ,
my d aughter Haley called , and I
walked along the street with many
other people while talking to her. I was listening to her, and giving a half-hearted effort toward looking for
some place where I could watch
people or somehow feel part of a community. I walked
by a black homeless man who asked me
for money, and it was very easy to
say "not now" while I continued
to talk on the phone.
Sud d enly it hit me that I could
ask a homeless man to have d inner
with me. I told Haley what I
was about to d o, and she let me off the phone. I knelt besid e the homeless man who was sitting on all his world ly possessions in a back pack. He was begging
for money, but he was also read ing a
newspaper. There was something d ifferent
about him.
I told
him I was from out of town, and
quite frankly I was kind of
lonely. I told him it would be an honor for me if he would have d inner
with me. He mad e excuses,
looked uncomfortable, but with some
small prod d ing,
he said , "Well, I have to be
somewhere by 8:30 , but I
guess I could d o
some carry out." (The time was 7PM .) We started
walking together. He was articulate, intelligent, engaging...just
homeless. I met Billy Ray.
Billy Ray took me to a famous BBQ
place in KC. Accord ing to him,
you're not consid ered a native of the area until you've had KC BBQ. A few people stared at Billy Ray as we walked
in. He wasn't exactly the d irtiest
homeless person I've ever met, although he d id have a slight od or.
Honestly, I d id n't
care. I saw in him a companion who was saving me from something...but
we'll get to that. He was my friend ,
and I was truly happy to be with
him.
We talked .
He is from Wichita Falls Texas , moved
to KC, painted houses, d ivorced ,
lost his job, and became
homeless. One winter he nearly froze because the parks and recreation people came and
took all his stuff...his sleeping bag, his blankets, everything. He was
so d istraught he d id n't
know what to d o. As he wand ered
aimlessly d own the sid e walk, a woman pulled
up next to him and asked if he would
like the stuff in her trunk. Includ ed in the stuff was a brand
new sleeping bag. He could n't
take everything, of course. He could
take only the things he could
carry. After all, Billy Ray is homeless, and
homeless people have to travel lightly. Billy Ray d oesn't
believe in asking God for his need s. He prays only for guid ance. He figures God
alread y knows his need s, and
God has never let him d own yet. He keeps a positive attitud e.
I asked
Billy Ray if he was lonely. He is. He talked
about the d ifference between being
lonely and being alone. It
seems that we both kind of need ed each
other tonight. I fought back tears, many times unsuccessfully throughout
the meal. I tried not to weep
openly, and yet tears streamed d own my
face more than once, and my eyes
were moist nearly all the time (as they are even now). Billy Ray d id n't
care, and he d id n't probe. He just listened , and
talked , and
mad e me feel like it was ok to be
me, includ ing tears.
We talked
about sin. I think he brought up the topic, but I can't remember for
sure. Accord ing to Billy Ray,
the worst sin a person could commit
is unfaithfulness. We spoke of our specific issues of guilt, forgiveness,
and renewed faith. I was so surprised by his wisd om.
He spoke truth to me, but he somehow mixed
in the right amount of grace. I'm not sure how he d id it, but he d id n't let me off the hook for sin in my life, and yet I never felt he was jud ging
me. Never once d id I feel that I wasn't his friend any more. Oh how I cried . We talked
about forgiveness and starting anew,
and ...so many things. I think
I realized at d inner
that we're all homeless in some ways. In fact, Jesus was homeless,
literally. It's just that some of us are homeless because we've lost our
bearings and the compass of our
souls while others simply lose a roof over their head s.
Billy Ray has the biggest roof of all over his head ...or
at least that's what he said .
I asked
Billy Ray if he was happy. I told
him that when I see a homeless person, I never really know how I can
help. But then again, if Jesus was homeless, and
if a homeless person is happy, maybe my help really isn't help. By the
way...he's happy, but he d oesn't
want to be homeless. He has d ignity
and prid e
in the positive sense of the word .
We talked
about the real challenges of a homeless person find ing
work. He said that a homeless
person can't exactly get a job in a restaurant because it's d ifficult to practice good
hygiene. People d on't want you
around the food ,
and he would n't
d o anything to embarrass an
employer. It's hard to get a
job where you have to be clean. He can't always take a bath.
Sometimes the kid s will soap the
fountain near where I found him so
they can frolic in the sud s.
Billy Ray gets in and plays with
them...but his real purpose is to take a bath. Anyway, unless a job comes
with a uniform that is cleaned by
the employer, a homeless guy has a hard
time find ing a job. About the
only area where you can come to work d irty
is in construction. And it's
hard to find
a construction job in a location that has some of the need s
of a homeless person (like shelters and
food kitchens).
I asked
Billy Ray what a person could d o to really help a homeless person. I
honestly d id n't
know. I said , Let's say for
example that I had $50-$100 to give
you. How could that help you
the most. His answer surprised
me. He said what he need ed most
was a cell phone. You can't get a job if people can't call you.
Without a cell phone, you have to go there every d ay
to see if they're hiring. Then if you skip a d ay,
they may hire someone else since you weren't here. You see, most people d on't give the same courtesy to a homeless guy that
they would give to someone
else...either that, or they just d on't
know how the world works for a
person who d oesn't have an ad d ress or
a phone #.
So Billy Ray and I went to find
a cell phone. We were looking for one of those pre-paid things where you get X amount of minutes, and when those are d one
you can buy X amount of minutes more. We came close to making a d eal with the sales clerk when I wond ered if
I could ad d minutes to his phone when he need ed
them. Could I continue to help
Billy Ray even though I was so far away? Then it struck me. Why not
ad d
Billy Ray to my cell phone plan? Instead
of him scraping and saving every
possible minute, why not pay $10/month and
just let him be my family. Heck, we even look alike. People might
think we're brothers or something!
On this night, Billy Ray was more
than my brother. He was an angel sent from God .
He even told me that maybe we met
tonight because I need ed him more than he need ed me. I cried
again, because he was so right.
When a person loses their way, God has a unique way of starting the process of
recovery. I need ed Billy Ray tonight. My night went from the
worst possible to one of the coolest experiences of my life. Don't get me
wrong. I'm still lonely. But at least tonight I felt like I had a soul again. Maybe there's hope after all. Billy Ray may be homeless in terms of walls
and a roof, but I needed a home for my heart.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Apparently a Picture Paints Exactly 5 Words
Nashville gets steamy in the summer. If you trip and fall, the hot asphalt
could scar you permanently. Birds need
pot holders to pull worms from the ground.
On one such day I ventured to the downtown area to explore. I parked the car, called my wife, and approached a parking lot attendant to get advice on what to see. While we were talking, a man and wife approached the car beside us. The man helped his wife in the car, but then he stood to listen to my conversation with the parking attendant.
What I saw next was the passenger car door opening. The woman stuck out her hand, palm up, with an element of frustration. The body language was clear. “I want the keys so I can turn on the air conditioner, you jerk!”
That’s what I saw. Remember that my wife was still listening on the phone. All she heard was, “Sir, your wife is hot!”
My injuries have healed, but I will forever remember the truth that body language communicates more than words!
On one such day I ventured to the downtown area to explore. I parked the car, called my wife, and approached a parking lot attendant to get advice on what to see. While we were talking, a man and wife approached the car beside us. The man helped his wife in the car, but then he stood to listen to my conversation with the parking attendant.
What I saw next was the passenger car door opening. The woman stuck out her hand, palm up, with an element of frustration. The body language was clear. “I want the keys so I can turn on the air conditioner, you jerk!”
That’s what I saw. Remember that my wife was still listening on the phone. All she heard was, “Sir, your wife is hot!”
My injuries have healed, but I will forever remember the truth that body language communicates more than words!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Apparently smoke detectors lack intelligence...
My embarrassing experience with the Houston fire department began in Kansas City. A seasoned traveler commented that steam could remove wrinkles from a shirt. That information appeals to one who can’t figure out which side of an iron to hold.
I arrived in my room and promptly removed my shirt from the suitcase. I hung the shirt in the bathroom, turned the shower to its hottest setting, and closed the door. Proud of myself for planning ahead for the next day, I called my sweetheart. Time flies when you’re having fun.
After about 45 minutes of conversation, I remembered my shirt, the shower, the hot water, and the closed bathroom door. As I threw open the door, a volcanic burst of steam hit my face. By the time I fought my way through the fog to turn off the water, I heard a disconcerting sound.
Smoke detectors don’t make good elevator music. They don’t produce pleasant and soothing sounds appreciated by those on the 18th floor of a hotel. They also apparently can’t tell the difference between smoke and steam. I quickly called the front desk to confess my blunder. Doors began to open and slam in the hall as my fellow travelers expressed curiosity and concern. One voice proclaimed, “Some idiot is smoking!”
I stuck my head out into the hall way, and thought about agreeing, “Yeah, some idiot is smoking!” But instead, I ‘fessed up. With a sheepish grin, I said, “I’m the idiot. I was trying to steam my shirt in the bathroom.” At least everyone seemed happy that evacuation was unnecessary.
Then I heard the sirens.
I love happy endings. No firemen dressed in battle gear stormed the hallway. No axe was swung, and no idiot was arrested or publically humiliated. In fact, the rest of the evening was quiet and uneventful. And on top of all that, my shirt looked really good the next day!
I arrived in my room and promptly removed my shirt from the suitcase. I hung the shirt in the bathroom, turned the shower to its hottest setting, and closed the door. Proud of myself for planning ahead for the next day, I called my sweetheart. Time flies when you’re having fun.
After about 45 minutes of conversation, I remembered my shirt, the shower, the hot water, and the closed bathroom door. As I threw open the door, a volcanic burst of steam hit my face. By the time I fought my way through the fog to turn off the water, I heard a disconcerting sound.
Smoke detectors don’t make good elevator music. They don’t produce pleasant and soothing sounds appreciated by those on the 18th floor of a hotel. They also apparently can’t tell the difference between smoke and steam. I quickly called the front desk to confess my blunder. Doors began to open and slam in the hall as my fellow travelers expressed curiosity and concern. One voice proclaimed, “Some idiot is smoking!”
I stuck my head out into the hall way, and thought about agreeing, “Yeah, some idiot is smoking!” But instead, I ‘fessed up. With a sheepish grin, I said, “I’m the idiot. I was trying to steam my shirt in the bathroom.” At least everyone seemed happy that evacuation was unnecessary.
Then I heard the sirens.
I love happy endings. No firemen dressed in battle gear stormed the hallway. No axe was swung, and no idiot was arrested or publically humiliated. In fact, the rest of the evening was quiet and uneventful. And on top of all that, my shirt looked really good the next day!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Apparently I had writer's block
Sometimes I notice strange things and ask goofy questions. For example, why do the question mark and exclamation point reside at different corners of my keyboard? (For the historical background, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QWERTY). Generally speaking, the arrangement places the keys you use the most right under your fingertips, while you must stretch for keys that are used less frequently. Other characters even require the combined use of the SHIFT key, presumably because they account for even less activity.
My little pinkie is the weakest finger on my hand, and I have to use both of my pinkies to access the question mark and exclamation point. The exclamation point has become my nemesis. I have to think about it each time I want to use it@1! (There, I finally got it.) I don't have many problems doing commas and periods; I use them more often, and they come naturally. But exclamation points give me fitsQ@#!
You know something? In an indirect way, the arrangement of a keyboard reveals something about who we are. We all tend to make a greater number of bland, traditional statements that need nothing more than a period to complete them. We live most of our lives in the "ordinary" mode and need only to signal others when we're through with a thought or action.
Why don't we live more in the exclamation mode? Why are the question marks not more numerous? Is it simply because we must stretch a little farther on the keyboard to access them, or is it because we must stretch our spirits more than what we feel comfortable with? (OopsQ1@! I ended that last sentence with a preposition.)
History remembers men and women who lived their most noble moments in the exclamation or question modes. They changed the world not with the ordinary and bland, but with actions that require powerful punctuation to describe them. Live your life so that others require both pinkies to capture your essence! (No mistakes there!, I’m getting used to this!) Live with passion and exploration!
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