Cassidy:

        Every so often, there are rare moments in life that capture my heart and take me to places I've never understood before. That's how I felt when I met Cassidy. I went to San Marcos with the other Walkabout students for a day of fun at the river rapids and recreation park. We had a blast, going down on our water tubes, enjoying the beauty and each others company. The day filled me with wonder as i kept getting to meet and talk to random people that came to the park that day as well.
There was one man, however, that stood out to me the most. He was sitting with a boom box under a tree, there was another man with him. His hair came down to his shoulders, dirty blonde, with two dreads on either side. He was barefoot and wearing some dirty athletic shorts and didnt have a shirt on. He had a guitar next to a battered guitar case, and a colorful scarf hung around his bare chest and neck.
        We were getting ready to wrap up our time there when it started to downpour. Everyone seemed to be running frantically, but all I could manage to do was stand there with my arms wide open laughing out of joy from the rain. As I was standing there I couldn't help but start dancing, as I squealed with delight and pure childlike whimsy, my head turned to see that man standing there, laughing with me! He held open his arms and was filled with joy, dancing with me as the rain washed the dirt off our faces; I think it was washing away more than just the dirt. He motioned me over and as i came close I could smell the stench of beer and sweat, but i didnt care. I came closer and he ran towards me, laughing, he gave me a hug, smiling, and said "you just gave me so much joy! Its been such a blessing watching all of you today." He introduced himself and said his name was Cassidy and then he introduced me to his friend called gypsy. He asked me if i wanted to sit down, and i said "sure".
        Within the next twenty minuets I was able to talk with Cassidy and Gypsy, i found out that they were both homeless and had been living out of a car. Gyspy had been homeless for a long time and when he met Cassidy, Cassidy asked him if he wanted to come along for the ride. They shared with me stories of how they had run out of gas and yet someone provided them money, they were laughing the whole time as they were talking about it. Filled with this child like trust that even though they had nothing, they knew they were gonna make it.  Somewhere along our conversation, our topic
switched to how amazing it is that God uses people to speak through others. And branching off of that, how beautiful and faithful of a God we serve. As we were discussing this, all of us soaking in the fellowship with one another, Gypsy had been making something out of some sort of plant. He paused for a second and then handed me his creation. He said "Its made out of palm leaves". It was a beautiful shape of a cross with a rose on top. He then smiled and said, "Pretty cool we serve a God who died on a cross for us huh?" "Without a doubt," i said. 
        Later that day as we regrouped getting ready to leave, Cassidy came running up, with beer in hand and grinning from ear to ear "Can I play a couple of songs for yall before ya go?" he said. We all agreed, and the next half hour my ears were filled with the beautiful sounds of heartbreak, soul searching, and love. Cassidy sang with this sound of surrender, his voice filled the pavilion we were sitting in, each song he belted carried so much weight and emotion. At one point I almost started crying. I just met Cassidy, I didn't know how hard being homeless was for him. But after hearing his songs, I felt like I had know him for a long time.
        I learned something valuable that day. Cassidy lived with this type of surrender. He had joy regardless of his circumstances and didn't make up excuse for where he was in life. He was just there, present, and loving life even through hardships. I don't know if he knew Christ, but I know he believed that there was a God and his eyes lit up when I talked about Jesus. He accepted things the way they were and carried no judgment. What I learned from him that day was not only how to surrender, but how to love regardless of your circumstances. I learned more from him in that short time than I have ever learned from a church, which is pretty sad when you think about it, but its also a reality check.
        As Christians, it is so easy for us to get caught up in religion and become blinded to the straightforward instructions Jesus called us to. His biggest commandment was to "love one another." So why is that so hard to do? Maybe its because we romanticize love too much and make it more of an emotion rather than an action. Or maybe its because we get caught up in how we think we should love people in are own way (which almost always doesn't cut it). Think about all the times
you have seen someone without the adequate clothing or maybe thought "man they need help, I should pray for them." Even though prayer is powerful, how much more powerful would it be going up to the ignored and beaten, the dirty, and worn and giving them your shoes, giving them your food, or maybe something as simple as giving them your time. Cassidy smelt like beer and body odor, he probably hadn't brushed his teeth in a good month. His clothes were dirty and torn and his hair was matted. And yet, he was the most loving and beautiful man I have ever met in my life. I felt more loved by Cassidy than by any pastor, priest, or rabbi. I felt more loved by Cassidy than most of my peers that call them self's "good Christians" He taught me what it means to be genuine, in a world that makes you fake.  He taught me to love outside of myself, and to live life in a state of surrender.

Live a Radical Life

Dillon

The other day all the Walkabout students made a day trip to San Marcus where we played at a river
recreation park. We got there excited, ready to play and hang out with one another. We grabbed our river tubes and raced down the little river rapids. As some of us were sitting there by the river, i couldn't help but notice an older man standing on a rock in the middle of the river. He seemed to be be doing some sort of prayer or meditation. He had this in depth focus, and important purpose to what he was doing. I turned to my friend Skylar (who is also a walkabout student) and said to her, "there is something about that man, I bet he has an incredible story, he seems like a man with purpose."  We got back into the water and i didnt think much about it until after lunch.
        When we were through eating we broke into solo time (a time for us to reflect and read some scripture, or pray). For some odd reason i was having a hard time concentrating. So i stood up to walk around a little and collect my thoughts. As i was walking around the van, i saw a couple yards away, that same man that was praying on the rock in the river. I sat down on the curb watching him. He was doing some sort of dance; It looked tribal. Every so often, during his dance he would shout out "YEAH!!" and then jump up and down and say other words I couldn't understand. I began noticing a pattern and could tell when he was about to jump and shout. I was curious and rather enthralled. I felt a force moving me closer. So i stood up and walked to a picnic table not too far from him. I watched him dance some more and was completely captivated. Who was this guy??
        I noticed my heart beating fast and could feel the holy spirit urging me even closer. With every
jump, and "YEAH!!" and stomp the man made, I was pulled closer and closer to the spot where he was dancing; unable to stop the fast beating in my heart. In my mind i was hesitant "what am I doing, what if this man is mentally crazy?" and yet the holy spirit lifted my feet as I walked towards him. Jumping, spinning, stomping, "YEAH!!" As I was walking towards him I laughed out of joy and utter amazement when i looked across the field and saw Skylar and Nathanial walking from, different directions, towards the man also.
        When we finally got to our destination, we all had the same question. I was the first to ask it. "Hi name name is Suzy, and i'm just curious, (*laughing out of joy*) what are you doing?? The man looked at me, his eyes sparkling, and radiating the same joy that I was filled with at the moment. He said "Hi! My name is Dillon, and I think you know what im doing." he said this with a twinkle in his eye. I asked him what he meant by that. He said, "That same God you were reading about, its the same God I dance to, i dance for him. Its how i worship." We all looked at each other, filled with wonder and amazed by how the holy spirit had just moved through all of us.  We shared with him those feelings and how blessed we were by him. In which he responded with, "Dancing is a beautiful thing, im blessed by yall as well. I wish that more people would dance, especially younger people like you. If more people danced to our creator i feel like there would be more joy in the world." He then said, "Well, im gonna be around for a little longer, so if you see me around come and say hi."
        As we walked back to the river, one big word stood out to me; bold. Dillon taught me so much in such a short time. There he was, dancing his heart out in a public park, not worried about being judged by others, not allowing what society says to rule his form of worship. He potentially could have been called crazy, and maybe he was. But that is exactly what happens when we choose to live with boldness instead of fear. When we allow our worship to be genuine. If we are willing to be bold, how many more lives would we be able to touch; even if it were in the smallest ways. Jesus calls us to bold things, if we accept the calling, think of how radical of a life we would live. Free of fear,
worry, and misconceptions. Only full of worship, praise, and joy. We need to be more like Dillon, throwing our hands in the air shouting "YEAH!!" without a care in the world but to worship our creator. Stomping, spinning, and looking crazy, because we serve a crazy God who calls us to crazy things. Be bold, and live a radical life.