[This post is part of Rethink Homelessness, written 5.23.12]

I guess I have a midlife crisis on or around my birthday each year.  It seems as though I make big life changes around the same time every year.  I bet any therapist could have a field day with that info.

Here’s part of my journal entry from May 23 this year.  I didn’t realize I started thinking about this on my birthday.

5.23.12

I can’t sleep.  It’s 5:20 a.m. and I’m thinking about living as a homeless person.  I have no idea what to expect, but does any person going into a homeless situation?  It’s a little bit of fear and some apprehension.  When God was passing out the fear chips, I clearly forgot to stand in that line.  So what will it be like to live as a homeless person?

I decided yesterday to do a little homework before throwing myself out on the street.  What am I trying to accomplish?  I want to learn more about this.  I guess I’ve never felt “at home” many places in my life and I typically don’t belong in our society in the way everyone else seems to fits in.  I’m the square peg living in a neighborhood of round holes.

I’m not sure why I think this experience would help because all in all, I know I have a place to live when my week, or however long this is, is over.

I’ve heard of some people doing these “street retreats”.  I’m not sure how the name retreat got in there, but I’m thinking it’s not a retreat, it’s more of a defeat for people that really have to live this way.  Anyway, I hope I can do something good with this.

Have you ever heard of a “street retreat” or been on one?