Oakland

My first "lifestory" that I am going to blog about is about a man I will refer to as, "Oakland". As you will discover, the name I give him has a little bit to do with his story.

Oakland is a black man in his early fifties. He's rough. He's honest. He's funny. He's intimidating. He's an alcoholic. He played college football at Langston. He was drafted by the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders. Upon being drafted he was visited by Fred Biletnikoff, a former Raiders player, and given a large sum of money (Oakland claims it was $25,000). Once he flew out to California he partied, drank and wasted his money away. He never reported to training camp. Oakland is homeless and he's always late to sign in at Cross and Crown for food.

A couple of years ago I got into it with Oakland at the front door when I told him he was too late to get food for the day. I repetitively attempted to explain to him how it would be unfair for me to allow him to get food at 1:00 in the afternoon when 50 other people had been waiting in line at 9:00 in the morning to sign up for food and another 3-5 people arrived at 9:15 or so only to find out they were too late. So, how did he see it fit for him to get food and not all those other people that had been waiting several hours before him in the cold? It didn't matter. He was determined to get food that day (shoot, if i was in his position I probably wouldn't take no for an answer either). After several minutes of failing to get my point across Oakland and I came to an agreement and worked out a plan.

Ever since this instance Oakland and I have been on good terms. Nowadays any day Oakland comes we talk basketball. Oakland is a big Celtics fan (go figure, in all honesty though he was fan well before KG, Ray and Pierce). He is a Kobe hater, so I'm in good company. He always asks me about my basketball playing and how my games have been going. He tells me I look like Jeff Hornacek ( http://www.nba.com/media/history/jazz_hornacek_240.jpg) . I promise him I don't play like him. He calls everyone at the mission his kinfolk and says we're the only family he's got.

That's Oaklands' story.

same kind of difference as who?...you

I just recently finished the book, "Same Kind of Difference as Me". If you haven't read the book, you should. If you have read the book then you know that it is a story about two very different men who cross paths and form a very unlikely friendship. One man, white, comes from a rich heritage and had never experienced need, whereas the other man, black, comes from a poverty stricken past and has never gone a day without lacking. After having met at a nearby mission the two begin their journey. Through the course of time they discover a common ground, Christ, and the rest is history.


One of the most memorable, if not the most memorable, aspects of this true story that struck me was the fact that Denver, the black man, who lived on the streets and ate at the mission had so much to offer, so much untapped potential that was just bottled up and waiting for someone to ignite within him. Luckily, with the encouragement of his wife, Ron, the white man, decides to pursue Denver and befriend him, promising not to "catch-and-release" him.

As you continue to read, Denver and Ron become closer and closer and slowly but surely Ron's wife's prophetic words come true as Denver realizes his inner desire to know Christ and to follow Christ's call in his life. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the "rich, white guy with the easy life goes and saves the poor, confused black man". Towards the beginning of the book as Ron tries to shed some of his "knowledge" and do his "Christian thing" at the mission by feeding meals and basically "punching his good Samaritan card" we quickly discover Ron is in for some life-altering discoveries, as well.

This is the hope and desire that I, along with others, have at Cross and Crown and Rock Island. I can't imagine what it would be like if individuals, such as Ron, would intentionally (whether it was their idea initially or not) pour into and befriend, actually become friends with, specific individuals or youth that visit Cross and Crown and Rock Island. Just like Denver, there are so many "untapped" individuals that live on the streets and live a lonely, unengaged lifestyle that starves for friendship, family and relationship. As I am writing this I can think of 5 men, by name, that fit this exact description. I can only begin to imagine how different their lives would be if someone was willing to step in and give them the encouragement and friendship they desire and need.

I know. I know that for every Denver there are 100 others that don't work out or don't develop into the incredible story we envisioned. People disappoint. God doesn't. You just have to decide if that 1 out of 100 success ratio is worth the risk, worth your time, worth your effort. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. Maybe you think they have had their chance. That's between you and God.

Over the next several blogs that I write I am going to do my best to highlight some individuals and their stories and/or backgrounds. Given my blogging history this could mean a couple weeks or a couple months. Maybe through some of these life stories and real facts about real people your heart or interest might be sparked and lead to come down and see if you can't meet and befriend your "Denver".