[Guest Column By Craig Hamilton]
A few years ago a couple of my close friends produced a series of ‘Good News’ YouTube videos. They searched out stories of people doing good things in the world.
One morning I got a call from them letting me know that they were planning on filming an event in downtown Los Angeles – on Skid Row no less. Skid Row has one of the largest stable populations (between 4,000 and 8,000) of homeless people in the United States and has been that way since the 1930s.
My friends had a couple of cameramen scheduled to be there. My friends also told me they would be unable to attend and they gave me the job of helping out that evening. I said yes.
I had never actually been to Skid Row but I assumed the worst. I made sure I had enough gas in my car and enough air in my tires. I arrived a couple of hours early so that there would still be light outside.
The film site was a church in the heart of Skid Row that opened its doors for Karaoke every Wednesday evening to anyone living on the sidewalks.
A pre-arranged “secret knock” gave me entrance to the church, which was closed until the start of the event later that evening.
After a quick talk with the camera guys we decided that one camera would film the singers and another would go to a back room and film interviews with the people who had come off the streets to sing. My job was to talk to as many of the attendees as I could and direct those with interesting stories to the interview room. And that’s when the magic happened.
As about 150 homeless people came in for coffee, hot dogs, and Karaoke, I began to chat with them. I was amazed. All of them had compelling stories. Some had lived on the streets for years, one had been a successful prosecuting attorney, some were parents. It was holiday season and there was a group of college students that had used their holiday break to come to Los Angeles to serve in the missions there.
Here is what amazed me most. I had expected to find an environment filled with a depressed, hopeless group of people. Instead, I found a room filled with happy people, much happier than me, super happy people. The event gave them an opportunity to remember who they really were and to again glimpse their potential. The music provided HOPE.
Since then, I’ve relished the opportunity to serve. I’ve embraced those who, like the church’s pastor, dedicate their lives to helping others. My heart was opened. The transformation was mine.
Enjoy!
Craig Hamilton
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Love,
Martin
Martin Rutte
