It all started with a watermelon.


In the midst of my current 30-Day "No Meat and Only Water" challenge, I was shopping for fresh fruits and veggies at my local Walmart, when I stumbled upon a reasonably-priced piece of this juicy goodness.

A couple days later, I decided to take my weekly trip to Virginia Beach to read, pass out cards promoting my books, and peep the ultra hot babes that can be found behind every pebble of sand.

After setting up my things, I noticed a group of rugged folks with long beards and sun-kissed skin. After coating two slices of watermelon with salt, and savoring its juicy goodness, I was inspired to offer my neighbors the remaining huge slices (even though I dearly wanted to save them for later).

They thanked me when I gave it to them and thanked me again afterward. They were adamant about making sure I got my salt shaker back.

Everything begins as a seed. Watermelon. Friendships. Friendships cultivated through sharing watermelon.

Over the course of the day, I inched my way closer, and sat with them, as we discussed life on the streets, and debated differing beliefs on God and the Universe.

Towards the end of our day together, I gave my book Your Truth Will Set You Free to the most chatty member of the group, a man named Rob — who looks like Santa Claus — and he responded, "Shit! I can't read!"

Donnie spoke up and said, "I'll take it. I'd love to read it."

Three days later I returned to the beach, parking in the same place, hoping to run into the fellas again. Sure enough, I found them in the same spot. There's an outdoor stage right beside a fancy restaurant on the boardwalk. Musical acts perform every night.



The "rich folk" are on the left. There's a grassy area in the middle. The "street folk" typically congregate on the right side. In the photo above (L - R) are Randy, Donnie (throwing football), Stewie, Rob (Santa Claus), and I haven't met the other gentleman yet.

Most street folk have a backpack, in which, they carry everything they own. I imagine they have to make decisions regarding which items stay and which items go. I asked Donnie if he still had my book, and he pulled it right out of his bag.

That was a heartwarming moment.

A bit later, I finally ran into the guy who I'm forming the strongest bond with. His name is Mike. He was there on the "watermelon day," but was a bit skittish about the depth of conversation we had entered into, saying, "This is getting too deep for me, I'm gonna go jump in the ocean."

We spent a few minutes catching up. I left the park and returned with a large pizza and shared it with the group. All the customers and vacationers looked on with curiosity.

I've noticed that most people, when by themselves, will show respect to the homeless. However, when they're in social settings — especially like the swanky place we were surrounded by — they're more likely to make facial expressions that demonstrate their disapproval of the homeless, as they look around to make sure their "peers" are aware of their disapproval.



This photo was taken after the outdoor concert that night.

I'm confident some of the vacationers were wondering if I was one of the "street people." This didn't bother me. In fact, later that night, as I sat on the bench reading, on the boardwalk, I almost started asking people for spare change — just to see what it felt like. I've already thought about what my cardboard sign is going to say, when I follow through on this experiment.

It'll read as follows: Got Compassion?

I guess I've just become fascinated with the homeless culture. I love the idea of being a survivalist. And these people get it done every single day. They also look out for each other. They all have great stories to tell.

When I asked Mike if we could get a picture together, he said, "I'd be honored." Afterward, I asked him if he was good on money, and he said, "Naw dude, you ain't gotta do that. It'll ruin our friendship."

Whoa.

He didn't want me to see him as a "street person" who needed my charity ... he wanted me to see him as a friend.

Street people aren't caught in The Matrix, and all the drama involved in The Matrix. They tend to appreciate the quality of loyalty moreso than "working class" humans. That's probably why I like them so much. In addition, they're humble, appreciative, simplistic, practical, creative, and thoughtful.

In an effort to cultivate more empathy for my Homeless Homies, I decided to "wing-it" and stay at the beach that night. I thought If these people can find a place to sleep every night, I can certainly crash in my car tonight.

So that's what I did.



I had a feeling I was going to try this, so I brought two pillows just in case. I pulled down my back seat to create more room. I still had my tent in the trunk, so I folded that up as mattress. I used my Virginia Tech blanket for more cushion. I carry a sheet in my trunk to put over my back seat when Neo and I come from the river, so I used that to block out the light coming in from the back window.

My windows are tinted pretty dark (because I'm a huge celebrity), so that provided more privacy. And my front windshield sun-shade completed the job.



It wasn't terribly comfortable, but compared to sleeping on the streets, it must've felt like a mansion. Maybe when I go back next week I'll try sleeping on the streets.

If you know me, or read the blog regularly, you know I'm always challenging myself with new things. I think it makes life exciting. There's always something different going on. With so many people losing their homes these days, being out on the streets is a huge concern.

By cultivating friendships with my Homeless Homies, I've prepared myself for what life is like out on the streets. I realize that it's not really as bad as it seems. In fact, it's actually quite freeing! You come and go as you please. No set schedules. No deadline pressure. It's just back to the basics.

Water ... food ... sleep ... friends.

I woke up at 6 am the morning after I slept in my trunk. I drove to McDonald's and ate breakfast (egg biscuit w/ hashbrowns). Then I set up my gear on the beach as the sun came up.

Mike had slept in-between the beach chairs that are stored on the beach. He and Randy walked down and we chatted for about 30 minutes. Then they decided to go "hug the shade" and wait for the music that night (Friday).



As I'm laying in the grass Friday evening, reading a book, smoking hot girl laying a few feet away, I see Mike running towards me like a kid at Christmas, eager to tell his parents what he got from Santa ...

"Dude," he shrieked. "Donnie let me borrow the reading glasses (they all share a pair of reading glasses) and your book!"

I responded, "Have you read any of it?"

"I've scanned through a few of the chapters, but I'm gonna read it from start to finish beginning tonight," he said.

We chatted in the middle of the crowd, as the onlookers gazed in our direction with curiosity. I feel as though my energy that night exuded a certain presence that caused them to know I wasn't homeless ... but at the same time, I didn't think I was any "better" than the homeless.

I hope that energy caused them to reconsider how they view — and treat — the homeless.

Personally, this has been an eye-opening — and freeing — experience for me. I've given myself the gift of knowing that I'm capable of surviving without a home. I've given the "rich folks" the gift of learning to see street people as human beings. I've given my Homeless Homies the gift of acceptance.

In 1995, Joan Osborne released a song entitled "One of Us." A portion of the lyrics can be found below:

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home? 



Look at the face of my new friend Mike. Do you see Jesus in this photo?  =)

Chapter 46 of my book Follow the White Rabbit is entitled "Cultivate Empathy."

Chapter 47 of my book Follow the White Rabbit is entitled "Demonstrate Compassion."

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