Jinked

Since moving to Chicago, I see a couple homeless people on the streets begging for money every single day. This isn’t a culture shock; I’ve been to Chicago enough to see and experience the begging of strangers on street corners even when living in Indiana. But still, to see beggars every day, I hate it. And of course I never know what they’re going to [...]

Meeting people, listening to their stories, their life experiences, soaking it in and learning about the little ways in which the world works. Tiny things. Seemingly insignificant things. Eye contact across the crosswalk. The song playing one floor below my apartment. The messages in my inbox, my mailbox. The happiness and sorrow, it all awaits. I learn best from other people, even if we’re never [...]

Sometimes you stumble upon strangers playing bags on the street. And sometimes you talk to them. Sometimes they like you, and they give you beer, and you challenge them to a round of cornhole, and beat them. Sometimes you continue conversation while sipping whiskey in tea cups, and sometimes they give you their phone numbers. Sometimes the randomness of life is so very much worth [...]

I waffled a little about writing this on the car ride home from Northwest Indiana this afternoon. I had stayed the night with a couple of friends, and went to church with one of them this morning. I had been to this church before, back in high school. Some of the people there remembered me. They’re nice enough people, which is why this is a [...]