Bruce Willis bought me a bottle!

I mainly spent most of my time with one guy this past sunday. He was a new face and a relatively cheerful one as well, surprisingly.

One of my teammates asked him what we could pray for specifically and he said "forgiveness. we all need to learn to forgive each other you know what I'm saying?" (hah, when was the last time we ever prayed for that?) and after we were done praying I thought we (my teammate and I) would move on, but the guy started talking about random things to me and thus started my seemingly-hour long conversation with him.

Some interesting facts I discovered is that he had a job in private security for MSG (Madison Square Garden) and other places maybe? This would explain why he was new to me, he always worked on sundays. However, these past two sundays he was able to take the day off and went to church both times (Times Square Church). Even more surprising is that he's someone who has bounced back and got back up from the homeless world.

One interesting statement of his: "I learned to pick up my feet. You know all these people, or not even these people alone but also rich people too. They all fall down, we all are going to fall down. its going to happen to matter what. and some people don't know how to get back up you know? when I focus on something, I'm going to go after it. I'm not going to let no one or anything prevent me from chasing after it you know? I pray to God and I go for it and look what happened!"

And he tells me he's receiving housing in two more months and I ask him where. "Oh just right here [points to a tall building maybe like 5 streets away or so]. yeah you know its like right here, not too far. but I don't mind being around here you know, I'm used to this environment. this is where I grew up you know what I'm saying? I try not to get stuck on the bad things you know, I'm a cheerful guy. I like to have fun."

He then goes into how he has fun and what not... which is... yeah things I don't need to say haha. But he really lives it up haha. He told me one time bruce willis (or however you spell his name) asked him how he was doing and he answered with a line from one of his movies and bruce willis laughed and bought him a bottle of liquor. He also told me he's met most of the nba players which is kind of cool (we talked about the nba playoffs for a little, hah).

All in all I think the biggest thing I walked away thinking about is that because my teammate who was with me earlier said she didn't go to bars or clubs because she's focused on school, he was telling me that he understands that school's important and if thats your priority then go for it. but you got to have fun once in a while. what happens when school is taken away from you, or perhaps your job?

And I guess more applicable to us believers - What happens when we're too focused on worldly success - Can we also take time aside and spend it for God (in whatever form or shape this takes place in)? If all we're doing as college students is seeking good grades or whatever to land a job after graduation or if all we're doing as young professionals is seeking the moola or moving up that corporate ladder, then I think we're missing the focus. I could barely could carry a conversation with the guy since I had no experience in what he was talking about. not saying I want to go clubbing or bar-hopping anything, but does this mean I should completely reject any relevant knowledge about it? how can I talk about something and have a conversation with if I know nothing about the subject? and what do a majority of these people know a lot about? drugs, sex, violence (in general), sleeping on the streets, jail, broken families, cops, having no reliable friends, etc etc...

Time to get real and live it up a little (in the spiritual sense).