Free at Last?

 I never got his name, and wouldn't put it in print anyway. He was free at last after being in Level 4 (restrictive lockdown) prison for 7 years. The white man needed a job and fortunately several employers were "looking at him", maybe giving him a chance to renew his life. I see this almost every week as I meet men who now have freedom from jail/prison and are struggling to find a job. They often stay temporarily at Salvation Army, or drift into the city and right back out. How would an employer know if he could count on the guy? How could the new guy in town find stability, housing, training? I need to do some research on my city's half way house!

  I've watched for many years as Jesse's Place and Jimmie Hale Mission in Birmingham, AL rehab women and men in a significant way. I've visited both places and believe in them both. We have a few places in Montgomery that reach out, but I'd especially love to see a Jesse's place here. There are too many women who are homeless, a heartbreaker in itself. I'd love to see the churches of Montgomery (many) open their doors to the homeless on cold nights. There are beds available in several ministries (God bless them), but too few to accommodate the vast numbers. Where is my part in this? Maybe I'll approach my own church!

Trucker's Chapel Alabama

I was privileged to meet Reverend Bill Maddox last weekend on a back roads photo shoot. He was in the process of moving from his present location of 4 years to a site down the road a few miles, still in the Black Belt. His ministry was founded in Selma in 2000. Reverend Maddox worked in the transportation industry for 41 years so has a special rapport with fellow truckers. 

Wash Day

I have not photographed poverty in the Black Belt region in awhile, but took an afternoon to make an outing with my camera. It did not take long to find what I was looking for. A cloudy day, with rain on the way caused surprise as I happened upon a young woman who had just hung out the wash and was sitting beside her trailer. I'm always nervous to cold call but on this occasion I could stand near the street and shoot the scene with her permission. (I'll take her a blanket on my next shoot). As she graciously stepped inside her home, my emotions of gratefulness for what I have over powered me as I began to capture the incredible yard of overwhelming "stuff". The eyes are the windows of the soul and no photo can take in all my eye saw and my heart felt in those 15 minutes I shot. The furious dog in the shabby trailer next door created a ruckus and the neighbor appeared to see what the problem was. (I am always creating a fuss). Finishing my photo opportunity, I backed out of the make shift driveway and headed on with a watchful eye and heavy heart. "Look to your neighbor", I say. There are so many needs.

Tuesday at the Montgomery Rescue Mission

Montgomery Food Bank

The Real Truth about Real Love by George Drain

I am privileged to serve breakfast alongside Chaplain Browder at the Montgomery Rescue Mission several times a week and through his ministry I met George Drain, Friend of God for Almighty God, poet, musician, singer, songwriter. I am honored to present  his first poem.


The Real Truth about Real Love

If it ain't right, it ain't meant to be. If it
don't last, it will come to pass.

When two people are real with each
other and they both love from the
bottom of their hearts, it will be real and
it will last forever and we both know
that is a very nice start.

Learning to love each other has been
with us always in the past, and it's still
with us even now and we both know
that's going to last.

People who don't care for each other
should care from the bottom of their
hearts. It will be real and it will last
forever and we both know that's how
caring really starts.

The feelings that we should share
together will be like the lights
showing from Heaven. It will be real
and it will last forever and forever is
why we start

If it ain't right, it ain't meant
to be. If it don't last it will come to pass.

written by George Drain, copyright
No part may be re-produced, but copies of George's poetry may be purchased

Montgomery Area Food Bank

Today I was at Chaplain Browder's Montgomery Rescue Mission. "Chap" serves breakfast to inner city folks 5 mornings a week. I usually help in the kitchen on Mondays but today I helped on Tuesday. I was surprised to see a large group of people lining up outside the kitchen to receive numbers and grocery bags. Montgomery Food Bank arrived with an amazing supply of food to give away to the less fortunate. They set up in the Rescue Mission driveway on the top of wooden racks and let the first-last numbers come into the area to receive. This made me so happy that my new city does something so remarkable for the poor.

 You can donate to this food bank by going to their website:
http://www.montgomeryareafoodbank.org/

 You can read more about the Rescue Mission at:
http://montgomeryrescuemission.org/

New Restaurant in Town

I happened across a new place to eat in the Black Belt Region and fell in love. It isn't open yet, but it will serve the youth of its community as well as the diners. I spoke with the owner who has reached out to the kids who "want more". After speaking with her, I hope to get on board with her Dad's ministry to feed the hungry breakfast every morning from 7-8AM. 

Wise People....

Read!

The Foot of the Black Belt

I have never seen more beautiful land than here in the bottom of this region of the Black Belt....rolling hills, vast farmland, beautiful skies, and well preserved homes. I set out to explore with only iPhone camera in hand and after a Saturday cell phone adventure, returned home with a slew of pictures to edit.

So many of the small towns sit and wither away but many thrive. There is great poverty scattered amongst lovely plantation homes and one can count on passing a church almost on every mile of the backroads (another shoot, another Saturday).

 Flags and tributes to fallen soldiers on this Memorial Day weekend were everywhere for the 300 plus miles I traveled today in the hopes to know my state even better. My quest was successful!

What Inspires You?

A new question to think about! In small letters someone has written their answer, "The South". Someone else has answered Alcohol, another has mentioned Yoda.
Photographed in the Black Belt region, the picture speaks a thousand answers.

The Panhandlers

Marjorie, Duck, and Jeremiah

They all have something in common: panhandling. It seems that everywhere I go someone begs for money. It's hard to know what is a real need, so this time I took Duck to the chicken place and bought his lunch. He looked like he had not eaten in days. Marjorie's husband, on dialysis,  got a beautiful new blanket from my gift collection, thanks to my generous girlfriends who keep me stocked. Jeremiah wanted $12.50 to stay overnight at Salvation Army. Although I did not give him the money, I am doing some research on how to provide a bed for those who need one without handing out cash. 

Something to Think About

A chalk board asks the simple question, in honor of Rosa Parks. 

New Shoes!

If you want to help someone, stop by a nursing home and find out the needs of some of the indigent patients. Ms. Edna needed new tennis shoes, so imagine her delight when I presented her with a new pair. (SO inexpensive, but a wealth of happiness for her and me!)

I asked,  "What else can people do to help?" The nurse said that giving manicures to these elderly ladies would be a blessing. Check it out! 

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

To be honest, I worried about my lily white self visiting this historic African American church today.  Be assured, that although no one welcomed me or spoke to me, this was one of the most meaningful worship services I have ever been to in my 40 years of regular church attendance. I was an hour late, but the sermon was just beginning. The Reverend delivered a powerful message from Acts, and  after taking 5 pages of notes, I was sorry to see the service end.

   As we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the civil rights movement in Alabama, I am so thankful I live here in this beautiful area which is so rich in history.

Let's Pretend

Let's pretend it's a perfect world.
Let's pretend there is no poverty,
nor is there anyone out there who is lonely
or needs a human touch.
Let's pretend that when people die they are surrounded by all those who love them.

Ok, let's imagine there's no Potter's Field,
that houses are not taken away because one can't pay his taxes,
or that everyone has an adequate wardrobe and stays warm during the winter months
or has plenty of food to eat.

Life isn't like this.
Look around!
Reach out and help someone!
Visit an indigent nursing home and hug someone.
Volunteer at a food bank or read to a child.
Teach a skill to those less fortunate.

YOU will be blessed.

I will miss you Billy Fielding!

Great Books

Carry Me Home  (Diane McWhorter)
Road to Freedom  (Julian Cox)
Down Home  (Bob Adelman)
Encounters  (Kathryn Tucker Windham)
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (Walker Evans)

7 (Jen Hatmaker)  Humorous in every way, on every page, Jen writes with a flair that makes one feel they are part of the scene. I found myself laughing out loud, identifying with her girlfriends and raising kids as when I was her age, but also identifying in my latter days as I minister with Chaplain Browder with the homeless, poverty and ex-inmates.  Day 8 Month 6-my favorite that hit home!

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount  (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Hole in our Gospel  (Richard Stearns)
Crazy Love  (Chan)
Radical  (David Platt)
Love Does (Bob Goff)

n----- Dick Gregory (some offensive language but tears will flow as you read this account of his life) His title is the "n" word which I won't write here, so check it out yourself!

same kind of different As me  (Ron Hall & Denver Moore)
Leaving Gees Bend  (Irene Latham)
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers)
The Member of the Wedding (Carson McCullers)

Coming of Age in Mississippi (Anne Moody) (language can be offensive, but the story is true and absolutely amazing)

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Uncle Tom's Cabin  (Stowe) (this book will break your heart!)
Black Boy

The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald) & museum in Montgomery, Alabama
                              fitzgerald in montgomery

The Swan House (Musser) Having lived in Atlanta and roamed the entire area as a photographer,  I was mesmerized throughout the whole book wherever the author took us as the story unfolded.

Orphan Train (Kline) (some offensive language, but exceptional novel, based on history, and very well written) This book will be on my top five all time great reads. We can all see ourselves in the story, if we have had family hardships.

A Black Belt Christmas

What a wonderful world! All of the region has enjoyed Michael Goldsmith's (Mickey) glorious display of lights for years. As I stood on the property and spoke with Mickey's best friend, numbers of parents with their children came to see the magical lights, a visual wonderland. This is probably the last year it will be on display at this corner. I am sad to say that Mickey passed away. One can sign the tribute board to him and read the news article in his honor. 

Black Belt Books

Take a Book/Return a Book says the sign on this free library encased in a cabinet on a main street of the Black Belt region.  What a great idea for anyone who wants to read.

You're in the South!

Where else could you pet a well groomed goat, pick cotton, and tap your toe to live gospel music all in a 24 hour period?

How can you explain the friendly atmosphere of a festival full of people as they sell their wares and have one vendor agree to come to your farm and teach you to raise bees?

How long has it been since you have seen men of faith distributing Gideon Bibles to anyone interested, and the local church giving out free bottled water?

And last but not least, how fun is it to see several art and photo contests, watch girls win crowns as they become festival queens, and applaud the banana pudding for winning first place in the "sweets" competition?

It's simple! You're in the south!

Highlights of the weekend:

Meeting Greta at the Eclectic Library which still has jail cell bars from days gone by and Kathryn Windham Tucker's books have their place of importance. The library has a special room for books written by Alabamians only and Greta promised me my own library card.

The pig race at the Alabama National Fair

Picking the perfect cotton on highway 14 for a new 2012 photo

Birmingham Public Library

http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/search/collection/p4017coll6