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By Wendy Rojo
Growing up my grandmother was my biggest role model. She went through so much tragedy in her life, and she prevailed. She would tell me, “Mija, no puedes dejar que la vida te deje.” Roughly, that translates to, “You cannot let your life leave you behind.”
After unexpectedly losing my grandfather, who was the sole provider and handled all of their finances, my grandmother had to learn everything on her own. Eventually, after some trial and error, she was able to provide for herself, and she even discovered her enjoyment of traveling.
She would tell me, “Mija, no puedes dejar que la vida te deje.” Roughly, that translates to, “You cannot let your life leave you behind.”
She would go from her tiny village in the southernmost part of Mexico to Mexico City where my aunts live, to Texas where my family lives. Once she mastered this, she would go off on her own, exploring various places throughout Mexico, and she was not scared to hop on a bus and get lost. She’d say that getting lost was part of being a traveler.
I listened to her advice, and I realized that it would never be, “the right time,” or “the right moment” and Iceland was the dream.
She taught me that life is too precious to wait for the right moment or the right time. She would say that we are alive to live. After she passed away in February 2021, I thought about every moment we had to share and all the wisdom she shared with me throughout the years, and that is when I decided that I could not wait for life to pass me by.
In October 2022, I took my first solo trip to Iceland. I had traveled alone to Mexico vari-
ous times before, but I had never been somewhere so foreign and far. But I listened to her advice, and I realized that it would never be, “the right time” or “the right moment,” and Iceland was the dream.
After visiting Iceland and being able to maneuver the city of Reykjavik alone as a person who chronically gets lost, I knew I could go anywhere and be okay. Her words ring in my ears as I explore the world because waiting around for the right moment will never happen.
My passion for travel came from my grandmother, and her willingness to step out of her comfort zone to live life is what truly inspires me every day. Her words and wisdom are the best gifts that I have ever received. I attempt to live by her words every day because life is made to live and life is not to watch from the stands. At times it can be scary to venture out on your own but realizing that you are never truly alone is quite a beautiful thing.
Whether that means going to that new restaurant alone, traveling alone, or going to the
movies alone, it is crucial to live every moment. We cannot sit around waiting for others to make it the right moment. But living in the moment can also mean just being present and grateful for what we have right in front of us. Being grateful for all the small wins we have in our day-to-day life is a huge step toward embracing life and living every day to the fullest.
At times it can be scary to venture out on your own but realizing that you are never truly alone is quite a beautiful thing.
The Writers’ Workshop particpants and I reminisced on the importance of appreciating all we have been taught that truly helps us be grateful for all the small wins. We each wrote about the best advice given to us. What I find remarkable is that we all equally acknowledged the person who gave us the best advice and the longlasting impression that had on us.
STREETZine is an enrichment program of the
The STREETZine is a monthly newspaper published by The Stewpot, a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. The Stewpot provides services and resources for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of being homeless. The organization also offers opportunities for a new life.
As part of this ministry, the STREETZine seeks to raise awareness about the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The monthly publication also offers financial opportunity for Stewpot clients who sell the paper to Dallas residents. Vendors are able to move towards economic self-sufficiency by using the money they receive from selling copies to purchase bus passes, food, and necessary living expenses. Clients also receive stipends for contributing articles to STREETZine.
The content in STREETZine does not necessarily reflect the views or endorsement of its publisher, editors, contributors, sponsors or advertisers. To learn more about this publication, contact Betty Heckman, Director of Enrichment, 1835 Young Street, Dallas, Texas 75201 or BettyH@thestewpot.org. To read more about STREETZine, a member of the International Network of Street Papers, go to www.thestewpot. org/streetzine
Managing Editor: Wendy Rojo
Editorial Advisory Board: The Rev. Amos Disasa
Brenda Snitzer
Suzanne Erickson
Russell Coleman
Poppy Sundeen
Sarah Disasa
William McKenzie
Betty Heckman
Dee Leone
Photo Editor: Jesse Hornbuckle
By Reverand Meagan P. Findeiss
Editor’s Note: This essay is excerpted from an essay that Reverend Meagan P. Findeiss preached at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas on Jan 12, 2025.
The woman, dressed in her boots and coveralls, walks over to the pile. She gets her shovel positioned in her hands. She plants her feet, swings back, and then with force, lunges her shovel into the pile. The satisfying sound of the metal shovel scraping the concrete echoes in the air as she gathers her first scoop and throws it forward to clear that from which it came.
As the contents float in the air, the wind comes through. The heavier bits fall down to the ground and the light extra stuff blows off into the breeze. The adage “work smarter not harder” resonates deeply as we realize this has been the process of threshing wheat for millennia. Using what we have to do the hard work of separating the chaff from the wheat.
John the Baptist speaks to the masses using an image like this to describe what Jesus will do. Jesus, the one that John paved the way for, the one that will undo evil and injustice, the one that ushers in a new kingdom, will metaphorically clear the threshing floor by calling us to separate the chaff from the wheat in our lives.
The separating of the wheat is a precursory image for what baptism means and the role of the Holy Spirit in it. The story of Jesus’ baptism has many characters: John the Baptist, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the large gathering of people. John and Jesus clearly play important roles. The large gathering of people connects us years later to the integral story of the Messiah’s baptism.
And then ruach — the Hebrew word for wind, Spirit, breath — has a powerful role in this story as well. In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist’s role is minimized. Luke omits verses that mention the arrest of John, which coincidentally happens after Jesus was baptized. And Luke leaves out that John was the one who baptized Jesus. Luke wants to emphasize the difference between Jesus and John and wants to highlight who Jesus is after he
received the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Lord
We find ourselves now in the season of Epiphany, with January 6th being “Baptism of the Lord.” We remember Jesus’ baptism, which illustrates the love and happiness God has for each one of us. And we remember our own baptism and think about how it continually impacts our lives.
During the pandemic, I was working at a church in Asheville, North Carolina. We took turns on staff leading the prerecorded children’s messages for Sunday worship. For one service, I remember teaching about “Baptism of the Lord.” I recruited my husband to go with me down the hill to the nearby river. I put on fly-fishing waders and went into the water. As he steadily held the camera and recorded, I found my footing in the brisk current of the French Broad and articulated the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. I explained, with the perfect setting and sound effects, how after Jesus was submerged, he came forth out of the water, and the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove.
Jesus joining all those who were baptized on the shore of the Jordan River indicates Jesus’ willingness to belong to the actions of the larger group.
Often when we hear Jesus’ baptism story, we think that the baptism and the opening of the heavens happened in quick succession. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark say as much. The Gospel of Luke differs. Each Gospel highlights nuanced details which illustrate each author’s different perspective. For Luke’s account, there was no immediacy of time. Jesus was baptized alongside the others, not separately.
Jesus joining all those who were baptized on the shore of the Jordan River indicates Jesus’ willingness to belong to the actions of the larger group. Jesus was part of the community. Jesus praying as the Holy Spirit descended designates the major role of prayer in the Gospel of Luke.
And Luke’s depiction of Jesus as actively
Continued on page 5
By Brenda Snitzer
Starting this month, The Stewpot will commemorate 50 years of impact in serving people experiencing hardship or homelessness. As a ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, we will observe this milestone throughout 2025, starting with our annual Soup’s On luncheon on January 27. We will continue with events that engage the community in embracing and supporting those in need. The anniversary theme, “50 Years of Loving Our Neighbors,” will highlight The Stewpot’s long tradition of love in action.
From its inception, The Stewpot has been a community effort, driven by people who believe we have a shared responsibility to create solutions for our neighbors who are living in poverty. We will celebrate this legacy of hospitality and hope by continuing to serve those in need.
Since we began in 1975 to feed people on the streets of Dallas, The Stewpot has served more than 8.7 million meals. With strong support from donors, we now provide comprehensive services and a community of support for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, including programs that stabilize, house, and enrich the lives of Dallas neighbors.
These initiatives include helping people recover over 112,000 vital ID documents to access services and employment, funding 233 four-year scholarships for college or vocational school since 1991, and helping provide housing for 320 people since our rapid rehousing program began in 2021.
Creative solutions that respond to the needs of individuals and the changing landscape of the Dallas community are core to the organization’s approach. The Stewpot has grown into a “one-stop shop” for unhoused individuals and families in Dallas. And we have been part of the collective effort to curb homelessness in our region. In the last three years alone, Dallas and Collin counties have seen a 19% decrease in overall homelessness and a 24% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
Unfortunately, this mission is not over. The lives of our neighbors who are living on the streets, or who are recently housed and employed, or who struggle with addiction or mental illness remain complex. Combating homelessness as well as easing the piercing grip of economic and social hardships is not a oneand-done undertaking. This work often involves taking two steps forward while being thrust one step in the opposite direction.
Still, we persist as do our neighbors. That’s why we are honored to take a major step forward in our 50th year by purchasing CitySquare’s Opportunity Center.
When CitySquare announced midway through 2024 that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, the First Presbyterian Church, on behalf of The Stewpot, engaged in active conversations with CitySquare about acquiring its property. CitySquare’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept The Stewpot’s proposal after a competitive and equitable process to select the best partner.
The Stewpot and CitySquare have been longtime partners with a shared commitment to meeting the basic needs of individuals in the community and helping them improve their lives. We will relocate our offices, programs, and services to the 53,000-square-foot facility at the the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and I-30, which is about a mile from our Young Street home of the last three decades.
Meanwhile, we will continue to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown. And from our new location, where we have begun to move, we will continue serving neighbors experiencing homelessness and hardship in our community.
So, 2025 will be a pivotal, major year in the life of The Stewpot. As executive director of this ministry, I am honored to be part of this 50-year tradition of service. Our team remains devoted to serving those in need in our community.
Brenda Snitzer is the executive director of The Stewpot.
The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop Writes a Book
By Poppy Sundeen
If you walk by the second-floor Stewpot meeting room on a Friday morning, you’ll see a widely disparate group of people scribbling on pads and fueling their creative efforts with bites of homemade muffins. You might overhear quiet discussions about narrative flow and comma usage or a loud whoop of joy as someone in the group shares word of becoming housed or finding a job. Those are typical sights and sounds at The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
One Friday last spring, the conversation turned from the typical to the unprecedented as we pondered the possibility of writing a book. Yes, a book made up of essays by workshop members — men and women who are currently or have been homeless. Sound like a lofty goal to you? Well, it did to us too. We didn’t know quite where to start; we just knew we wanted to do it.
After getting an enthusiastic thumbs-up from the workshop writers, we began discussing the herculean task ahead. One thing the group members and writing coaches all agreed on was our eagerness to showcase the outstanding work of our writers.
We wanted the community at large to consider that someone they turn away from on the street may have wisdom worth sharing and stories worth hearing. We wanted them to see the humanity that connects us all as well as the individuality that belies the monolithic label “homeless.”
The title of the book, “Thy Neighbor,” was inspired by a story told to me several years ago by a Stewpot volunteer I interviewed for a STREETZine profile. He told me that for many years he chose not to belong to a church, but he reversed his decision after attending a service at First Presbyterian of Dallas. When I asked him why, he referenced First Presbyterian’s ministry to the street community in its immediate downtown Dallas neighborhood via The Stewpot. “I consider one of the core teachings of Christ to be the idea of loving your neighbor,” he said. “What I
found in the church was strong evidence of the practice of that commandment.”
“Thy Neighbor” is both the book’s title and an expression of its mission — the hope that readers come to see the housed, the unhoused, and everyone in between as a neighbor, just as those of us who gather for the Friday workshop see ourselves as neighbors despite our differences: We live in apartments, shelters, houses and on the street. We’re old and young. We’re Black, white, and brown. We’re straight and gay. We’re highly educated and not so much. In short, we’re all unique; and at the same time, we’re all one. In one of his essays, workshop writer Eric Oliver calls it “seeing through difference to a shared dignity.”
Deciding to write a book is one thing; writing it is another. That challenging task fell to our workshop members. Starting early last year, they wrote, rewrote, and re-rewrote essays — all without abandoning their usual work of writing monthly articles for STREETZine. The process lasted through spring, summer, and halfway through fall.
We decided to group the essays into three chapters, the first focusing on how each of our writers became homeless.
The second centers on their paths back from homelessness — paths that often include detours and, in some cases, dead ends. The essays in the third chapter address each individual writer’s perspective on the biblical edict to love thy neighbor — what it means and how it manifests itself on the street.
Pages are punctuated by color reproductions of artwork created by members of The Stewpot Art Program. And in case you want to put faces with the stories, you’ll find portraits of our writers by photo journalist Jesse Hornbuckle. We also owe a great debt of gratitude to Les Kerr who generously contributed his design and print production expertise to the endeavor.
Now we’d like to turn the project over to you, the reader. “Thy Neighbor” will soon be offered on our website at thestewpot. org.
Happy reading!
Poppy Sundeen, a Dallas writer, is a member of The STREETZine editorial board.
Continued from page 2
praying means that heaven was not opened just by Jesus’ baptism, but instead the descending of the Holy Ruach, the Holy Spirit, served as Jesus’ baptism while he was in prayer.
If we continue reading Luke, the next section is Jesus’ genealogy, where the author connects us with the lineage from the son of the first man to the son of God. All of these details guide us to the crux of the passage: The Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove, upon Christ, changed Jesus. Jesus then became man and son of God. John’s voice was replaced with God’s voice, an announcement of the true identity of Jesus.
Jesus was baptized for us
Maximus of Turin, a 5th-century scholar, writes, “How is it that Jesus needs to be baptized, he who is not justified by justice, but rather sanctifies justice itself? The answer is that Jesus was not baptized for himself, but for us. For Christ entering into the Jordan, washed the waters of that river.”
Jesus’ baptism allows for all to be connected to God through their own baptisms. Each person, or in the case of infant baptism, guardians, making the decision for the waters of baptism to mark them, their children, as Christ’s own forever.
When my son was just a couple of months old, we planned his baptism. Similar to when my daughter was baptized, the whole family was invited. We were going to celebrate our boy, and the joyous occasion of him being claimed as God’s beloved. As luck would have it, sicknesses and circumstances prevented many from being able to gather, so fewer than originally anticipated gathered for his special day. As his mom, and chief planner, I was saddened by the small number of family that was able to gather but delighted in those that were able to be in attendance. I worked hard at trying to push negative sentiments aside and did my best to be present in the moment.
His baptism was a special day. He wore an outfit picked out by a sweet friend, who happened to die just a few months later. It was the very first baptism for a new worshipping service at the church where I was serving. He was baptized by
a dear friend of mine, and all in all, we were able to celebrate our son wholeheartedly.
One of the other pastors at the church wrote me a letter that I opened the day after my son’s special day. It said:
On his baptism, all the planning was complete, and he was supported and celebrated by a congregation full of family and friends. The space emanated love and illustrated God’s delight. He had the waters of baptism placed on his head and he was claimed as God’s beloved child forever.
In the beautiful sacrament of baptism, we are named as God’s beloved child.
I worked hard at trying to move beyond my disappointment of the plan not going the way I wanted, and though I rejoiced in the day, I needed space to revel in God’s delight. The unexpected note of kindness gave me that opportunity. It was the needed reminder of what had happened on my son’s special day and that the day went exactly how it was supposed to. God was present and pleased and he was marked as God’s beloved.
Baptism names us as God’s beloved child
And so, I share with you: If you are in a spot where you are hungry for the reminder, know that God delights in you. God is present and pleased with you.
In the beautiful sacrament of baptism, we are named as God’s beloved child. We are marked with a visible sign of an invisible truth that through the waters of baptism, we are all one in Christ Jesus. A covenant promise for us and for all.
Our baptism calls us to do work on the threshing floor. To use the gifts given to us to sift through that which bears fruit and glorifies God, and that which does not.
As we think about our own baptism, whether we remember it or not, we are reminded that it ushers us into a different way of living. It is beautiful and glorious, and it also comes with risk. It calls us to live our lives in a different way. Our baptism calls us to do work on the threshing floor. To use the gifts given to us to sift through that which bears fruit and glorifies God, and that which does not. It calls
us to constantly be receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Luke reminds us that through Jesus’ baptism we see the love and happiness God has for each one of us. We have what it takes to sift out the chaff from the wheat in our lives. Our baptisms call us to live out spiritual “courage.” As we go forth from this place, know that you are God’s beloved. God smiles upon you and is pleased with you.
In closing, Steven Charleston, a member of the Choctaw Nation as well as a theologian, a scholar, and a voice of justice, wrote a poem called “What the Wind Says.” May the Holy Spirit move within you as you receive these words:
Listen to the wind. It has something to tell you.
Whether it is as quiet as the current That lifts the hawk to circle the sky
Or as loud as the storm chasing high waves to shore:
The wind has something to say.
There is a word for each of us, a message sent directly
That flows through the wind each day Offering us insight and vision, clarity and creative ideas
If only we will stop long enough to receive it.
Be still. Be awake. Trust your spiritual senses.
Listen to the wind. The Spirit is speaking to you.
Amen.
Reverend Meagan P. Findeiss is associate pastor for care and belonging at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.
Editor’s Note: Each Friday morning at 10 a.m., The Stewpot hosts a Writers’ Workshop. During the sessions, participants address selected topics through prose or poetry. In this edition of STREETZine, we feature the essays of writers that discuss the best advice they have best advice received or given How to Live the Good Life
By Savita Vega
The best advice I’ve ever received was from a former employer, the CEO of a chain of storage and organization stores based in Seattle. I was living in New Orleans at the time, and she called me up with a job offer to manage a similar store owned by a friend of hers in San Diego.
Within a couple of weeks, she met me in San Diego to help me make the transition into the new position. She wanted to make sure that I was comfortable and fully settled before she returned to Seattle. One of the items on her list was helping me find housing.
In my view, this would involve finding an affordable neighborhood — one where rents were cheap — and then looking for my ideal unit within that parameter. With that in mind, the night before we were to go look, I scoured the San Diego Union Tribune’s for-rent section and made a list of apartments I thought would give me the “biggest bang for my buck.”
The next morning, promptly at 7:00, Karen, my former employer and friend, picked me up from my hotel and whisked me away to a coffee shop in La Jolla, where we could put together a plan of action before the apartment complexes opened at 9:00. I thought it rather strange that she had chosen a meeting spot so far from my hotel, which was near the store where I would be working, but on the way, she began to explain her way of thinking.
She didn’t just intend that we should have coffee in La Jolla, which incidentally was the neighborhood where she had lived some years prior. She intended that I should look for an apartment there, an idea that struck me as absurd, because La Jolla was one of — if not the — wealthiest neighborhood in San Diego at the time.
As we drew closer to our destination, and Karen began looking for a place to park, I remember looking up at all the posh condos with views of the cliffs and thinking, “This woman must be crazy.” Everything around us was new, crisp, and clean.
The entire neighborhood was flawlessly manicured and spotless. Not so much as a wad of gum littered the pristine sidewalks, and every inch of otherwise unused space was beautifully landscaped.
As we entered the crowded coffee shop, I tried to imagine myself living here in this Garden of Eden-like setting, among all these beautiful people. It was hard, if not impossible, to conjure up such images. I was from a place where all the roads were dust and mud, and if you didn’t live in a trailer house or dilapidated wood frame, you were considered “well off.” I couldn’t even imagine what the insides of these people’s houses must look like. Even the cars they drove cost more than any house I ever set foot in. How could I possibly belong here? And how could I possibly afford it?
But as we sat enjoying our coffee, Karen laid out her plan and explained why this, of all neighborhoods, was the one she had chosen for me to live in. When you live in a cheap neighborhood, she explained, you may have low rent in relation
to the size of the unit. But you pay for that square footage in other ways, such as exposure to high crime — the risk to property, if not to life and limb — and lack of access to certain amenities such as nice parks, libraries, cultural centers, public events, shopping, etc.
The way she explained it, when you choose instead to live in a small unit in a wealthy neighborhood, you may give up a few extra square feet of space, but you gain all that the rich people’s money pays for, both in terms of their taxes and otherwise. You enjoy the same degree of peace and safety and partake in the same amenities and luxuries they enjoy. This manner of living is also uplifting and enables one to focus on oneself and one’s priorities.
That day Karen sold me on her philosophy, and I’ve never forgotten it. In fact, I’ve always kept her advice in mind when moving and choosing a new place to live.
Savita Vega is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Jason Turner
Other than the entire Holy Bible, the best advice I’ve ever received is to watch the way I talk to people. That hits home for me because one time, tragically, I got my nose stomped off on the streets for answering someone disrespectfully.
I was asked for a cigarette right when I got off work. I replied with a rude “no.” I was rushed to the emergency room with my nose up by my forehead and received 16 stitches on the upper part of my top lip reconnecting my nose. The experience was painful, to say the least, and a life lesson of how you never know what someone is going through.
I was very young and didn’t realize that words have the power to kill, like the Bible says. I hadn’t studied the Bible at that point, so I was under the impression that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That’s entirely fraudulent information. Words are very powerful and should be treated with care. They can build up a person and motivate them to do great things or they can tear down people’s spirits.
I’m not sure but I think some of America’s
By Gershon Trunnell
Good advice comes from good counsel. It has a foundation of righteousness. Good company helps complement good character. Bad company corrupts good character. People would look at examples I set and ask advice based on how I conduct myself in situations. They trust that I wouldn’t lead them to harm or hindrance, but I give help in the form of encouraging words of wisdom.
Following good advice is important because it allows you to give good advice to others. When you give good advice to someone it helps them in the future. Giving good advice goes a long way and takes you far in life and in your purpose in life. When I think of what advice I have given and been given, I think of it like a seed that grows. It’s like a seed that I plant. It bears fruit through what, who, and where I am, which provides growth for everything around me.
school shootings happened because kids were being bullied on social media and/ or called names. I hear voices and the voices can hinder my judgment. They sometimes make me feel less about myself, although they never completely persuade me. It is just plain annoying. I’ve had days when a smile and a soft “have a good day” made the difference in calming my spirit and reminding me that the voices I hear are wrong and that there are good people still left on this planet.
When I can remember and when I get the chance, I try to smile and always say “hi” when I walk by someone. I always ask if someone is alright or if I can help them if I see they have an issue, such as dropped groceries or heavy trash bags to carry. How you talk to someone can ultimately provide social connections and interactions that can lead to great things. Some people even meet their spouses through a kind exchange of words that sparked a marriage. When I use words savagely to cut deeply, I always feel strong remorse and try to make it right unless the situation is beyond my control or repair. Emotional damage and verbal abuse also are sometimes longer lasting than physical abuse.
My mother is a retired teacher and still
substitutes in her spare time. She recently informed me that the word “violate” was banned from her curriculum. That tells me that kids are even more susceptible to harmful language, which is why PG- and R-rated films regulate profanity. Using offensive language can have legal repercussions as well. If caught disturbing the peace, especially around children or in public places, one could face legal charges. Everyone watches what they say at church functions and in professional business environments. If you want to make a sale, I found people’s language changes as well.
So “watch the way you talk to people,” is the best advice I’ve ever received. I’m not sure exactly who told me that and I have a feeling my parents and early childhood teachers told me that once and I just forgot it or overlooked the importance. But I had a reminder in my early 20s the hard way on the streets and I’m lucky to still have my life. I’m 37 and I do slip up and speak aggressively at times. But I never use vulgar slang or fighting words anymore. I’m too old for unnecessary confrontation.
Jason Turner is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Gershon Trunnell is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Larry Jackson
As a young man, up and coming, carefree, and full of energy with no sense of purpose or sense of direction, I was a follower blind to all the rules of life — traveling on life’s fast lane with danger in the next curve. Road rage was in every lane. Destiny would soon follow. Explore John 16:13 and you’ll know what I mean.
Then came gut-check time. “Judge, your honor, was I really traveling that fast?” This crash would send me to the Mississippi Department of Correction.
The foolishness of a high schooler’s life where I presumed to be a ladies’ man or a barroom dancer — a young man living life carefree. True life was beginning to surface. The reflection in the mirror was not pretty. Just in one wild night — oh wow. Now I really had to grow up and take responsibility. My new suit was tailored by the Mississippi Department of Corrections. All my plans were placed on hold.
My mind was working overtime; I couldn’t
By Floyd Taylor
accept this picture for life. Finally, I requested to see the family pastor. I had to make sense of my newfound circumstance. I was determined to change this not-so-pretty suit. He offered a brief review of the teaching of God’s word, a prayer and instruction that came through Proverbs 3 and 4. The man of God cleared up my way of thinking. Thank you, pastor! When the door of the visiting room closed, depression departed.
Right away I started to pick up my Bible more. My God, this book is wonderful and filling. It was like eating my favorite meal daily. I fully accepted this great advice that came from the man of God. I felt shielded from my surroundings. Now I was able to press on. To this very day, I review the instruction in Proverbs 3 and 4: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. Take hold of My words with all your heart; keep My commands, and you will live.”
Focusing on the full armor of God helped me become a righteous person. There was nothing too hard in life. The many bumps, mischiefs, and deceits were all on this highway. Full armor would be
As I sit here reflecting back over the past, I still remember the day when I made one of the worst decisions of my life. At the age of 17, I decided to go joyriding in a stolen vehicle due to a dare and peer pressure. That day, my entire world turned upside down. A joyful ride became a life-changing event.
While speeding recklessly around my ‘hood, I lost control of the wheel. The crash caused the death of my closest childhood friend. Five months after his departure, I began having uncontrollable mental health issues. They led to multiple attempts to end my life.
My mental state had gotten to where I had no place to turn. So, I went seeking help at one of the local churches. Here it is, 42 years later, and I still can recall the greatest advice given to me that day from a pastor, who remains my mentor as I speak.
His exact words were, “Floyd, here’s a gentle reminder for today: You are much stronger than you may realize. Within you is a collection of inspiring stories about resilience and determination. Your powerful journeys prove that no matter where you are, hope is always within reach. Let them inspire you to believe in yourself as much as we believe in you.”
So, today I no longer suffer from those mental issues. The best advice that I was blessed to receive helped change my life. It made me into the man I am right now.
required to pass this test. Growing inside of me was a newfound power, a greater way of living, despite my circumstance. A pressing of the spirit was on hand. Also present in life’s classroom were wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. As I gained in knowledge, my life would become easier and sweeter. I could better understand the dictates of my current residency.
The more I understood the instruction, the more my error would disappear. It’s like learning how to operate an automobile. Mastering this task would take study, learning the function of the vehicle and the rules of the road for the safety of others. After all steps are understood, then I’m able to move forward.
My best advice is like a love letter to me. Clearly, my love letter has guided my life. Proverbs 3 and 4 have sustained me through it all. Following the instructions has made life smoother. I am kept by these simple instructions.
Larry Jackson is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Floyd Taylor is a writer in The
Accept Jesus
By James Varas
The best advice I have ever received is to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. This advice leads me to the memory of the greatest sermon that I have ever heard.
I remember that day very well. I was young and was attending church with my mother. The sermon was about heaven and hell.
Our pastor spoke about a child who was born blind and who had never seen the beauty of a tree. He had never seen the beauty of the sun, the moon, or even a grassy meadow.
One day the mother of this child found a gifted surgeon who could restore sight to her sightless child.
The child waited as weeks and weeks went by. Finally, it was his turn to be operated on as his name finally reached the top of the list.
The little boy went into the operating room and hours and hours passed until he came out with massive bandages around his head. One by one, they started removing the bandages. When they got to the last one, the little boy opened his eyes and yelled, “ I can see, I can see, I can see!”
By Mike’l Brown
Not too long ago I was going through an emotional breakdown. I needed funds to sustain myself and had no revenue. But once I got a job, I still wasn’t content.
Now, I didn’t say “satisfied” because you can be content and still not be satisfied. Satisfaction is just knowing your worth and wanting more because you feel like you deserve it.
There’s nothing wrong with that. But my friend told me to be grateful for what I do have, keep working towards a goal, and someday I’ll achieve it. The best advice i ever received was from him.
He continued by saying, “Oatmeal is better than no meal!” I never forgot that, and I now apply it to different things that pertain to my life. Sometimes we have to
He ran towards the window and saw his first tree, his first flower, his first bird flying in the sky. He looked at his mother and said, “Why didn’t you tell me I lived in such a beautiful world?” With tears pouring down her eyes, she said, “I tried, and I tried but I just could not do the job.”
My pastor went on about heaven. He said he could try to describe it, but he might not be able to do the job. Heaven is grander than a million artists could portray, and a million tongues could describe. Being in such a place became my passion after the pastor gave a description of every gem, diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald known to mankind in heaven and streets paved with gold.
Even after I have matured through the years, I have conversations with God saying, “I would be happy with a tent in heaven.” One tent in heaven would be enough for me as long as I made it there and could be with Jesus Christ.
After the beauty of heaven, the pastor began to describe the horror of hell. A man had told him, “I don’t believe in hell.” The pastor relied, “That’s too bad because you’re going there if you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.”
The man later was in a car accident and transported to the hospital. He requested the pastor come see him. As he arrived, the man began screaming at him: “Pas-
take a little and use it for a whole lot.
You see, oatmeal is a valued asset that you can use towards different avenues, such as oatmeal baths and oatmeal moisturizers. The latter protects, exfoliates, and cleanses your skin so you can apply it to your face.
Did you know that around 95% of oats are used for purposes other than consumption? The remaining 5% are sold and consumed mostly as rolled oats for breakfast.
You may think something can only benefit you in one area. But it actually can help you in many ways.
Be grateful for the things you have and use them to get the things you want. Very often the obstacles that we face in life are to prepare us for the future or to put us in a situation that was meant to better our-
tor, it’s true... I can feel the flames of hell! Save me!” He died right there before the pastor could pray for him and try to save him through Jesus Christ.
Talk about an awakening. My mother grabbed my hand and said, “You’re coming up here,” and we headed onto the stage to receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. I remember seeing the video of us going up there and my mother and I looked terrified.
After the prayer was recited to receive Jesus Christ, tears poured down our eyes as we had been delivered. Our names had been written in the Lamb’s book of life forever more.
So, the greatest advice I could ever give you is to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. If you have never done that, all you have to do is say, “Jesus Christ, I confess that you are my Lord and Savior. Write my name in the Lamb’s book of life. Forgive me of all my sins, known and unknown. From this day forward, I am yours forever. Amen.”
All of heaven rejoices when one lost soul is saved. I can hear the angels celebrating right now. May God bless you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
James Varas is a STREETZine vendor and a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
selves. If we were never put in those predicaments, we would have never come across these opportunities. You see, God won’t always give you what you want, but He will provide you with what you need.
So, take life one day at a time, analyze your situation, and see how you can use today to make for a better tomorrow. Like we were told when we were kids, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
Mike’l Brown is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
By Mike McCall
Throughout our lives we are guided by parents, teachers, friends, and mistakes to learn new skills to live our best lives. Whether we apply this knowledge is up to us. While most of our choices reflect the lessons we were taught over time, some individuals receive advice that sticks in their minds to mold who they become.
Now, don’t get me wrong, not everything you hear is good advice. But there is usually a gem or two that speaks to us in a meaningful way, something we can build on and consider a code to live by. Although I can’t remember who gave me the best advice I ever heard, its echo remains to this day. “Don’t ever ask someone to do something that you haven’t already done or aren’t willing to do yourself.”
Repeating this mantra became the backbone to my development as a man. I would draw from its words a sense of independence that would require me to figure many things out on my own. This helped me develop problem-solving skills along with the confidence that comes with being able to finish a project by myself.
While this way of thinking makes you very self-sufficient, it can become a doubleedged sword. I would sometimes struggle to succeed or get ahead due to my refusal to ask for help when it was needed.
By Darin Thomas
I give good advice to people about forgiveness and how to move on with their life. I let them know some of the things I went through with my mother and father when I was only nine years old.
When I was nine, my father murdered my mother by setting her on fire and shooting her twice. It was January the 2nd of 1982 in Springfield, Missouri. I will never forget that day. My siblings and I were present when it happened. I saw my father standing in front of my mother while she was on fire, looking at her burning, her whole body on fire. Our entire house burned down and everything inside it: pictures, clothes, paperwork — everything.
An example of this would be all the years I struggled trying to beat my addictions. My “figure it out” mentality cost me many tears and disappointments that came from my failed attempts. My “one-man army” was no match for the strength of addiction. Thankfully, I exhausted all my ideas and efforts before I permanently lost the battle. After receiving the help that I needed to silence my demons, I was able to choose a path where my code would become valuable again.
I went back to school to become a substance abuse counselor. This journey became a reality at the end of 2024. I’ve
been working in Dallas at the Salvation Army helping other addicts and living again by the advice I was given.
This line of work is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m also respected more by all the clients because I made it out of the trenches. My experience becomes my biggest strength and why my words carry power. Simply because I’m not asking them to do something I haven’t already done. All I ask is for them to be willing to try it for themselves.
Mike McCall is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Several years later, I was given the best advice about forgiveness. I prayed to my Heavenly Father and asked Him to bless me so that I could move on and forgive my father for taking me and my siblings through so much hurt and pain. I was told to forgive my father, and God will start opening doors in my life. That was the best advice I received from a lot of friends and family members: Forgive my father and God will start opening doors.
On one occasion, I told a good friend of mine to never, ever put his hands on a woman again. I talked to him about what happened to my mother, and he really paid attention to what I told him. He started asking our Heavenly Father for forgiveness. He regretted putting his hands on her and prayed for forgiveness.
He said he was not thinking at the time he put his hands on her. That not how you treat the ones you love — or anyone.
Forgiving others is the best advice that I’ve given and received in my lifetime. I thank my Heavenly Father for giving good advice.
Darin Thomas is a writer in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Check out our blog that captures stories, events, and moments in the lives of participants in The Stewpot Writers’ Workshop.
Here is a preview of our latest blog post by Darin Thomas: “Every time I get into trouble, I pick up my Bible and ask for forgiveness and realize God has my back. He never has left or forsaken me. God loves me and wants me to follow Him and Jesus Christ. He lets me see the light!”
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CHAPTER 31, SECTION 31-35 of the Dallas City Code PANHANDLING OFFENSES
Solicitation by coercion; solicitation near designated locations and facilities; solicitation anywhere in the city after sunset and before sunrise any day of the week. Exception can be made on private property with advance written permission of the owner, manager, or other person in control of the property.
A person commits an offense if he conducts a solicitation to any person placing or preparing to place money in a parking meter.
The ordinance specifically applies to solicitations at anytime within 25 feet of:
Automatic teller machines, exterior public payphones, public transportation stops, self-service car washes, self-service gas pumps, an entrance or exit of a bank, credit union, or similar financial institution, outdoor dining areas of fixed food establishments.
