Just Writing Through: Determination

Determination.

Do you ever wonder what drives people? What keeps them going despite defeat, despite despair, despite an intensely difficult life?

Two weeks ago, we had an ice storm. In April.

I think most of my family (and most of my friends) were none too happy with the weather situation. I mean, really, we had a mourning dove nest right outside of our front door window … with eggs.

Now, last year, we had a robin there, and she laid these beautiful eggs and abandoned them. It was hard to explain that to the children. (Also, a hawk tried to eat them later on in the summer.) So, it was difficult to think about what might happen to the eggs and the mother during these ice storms and frigid weather.

But that mourning dove … she was persistent. She had determination. She is tough.

We watched her steadfastly taking care of those eggs, keeping them warm. She never moved; she merely surrounded those eggs with all the warmth she could muster.

Recently, I spent a couple of months co-writing a series on homelessness for our local paper. It was daunting, at first. There were so many questions and so many avenues to pursue. But as we dove in – as we began to put a face to the idea of homelessness, as we listened to the stories of those who were willing to tell them, as we humanized the nomadic life of the homeless in our community – I felt the desire for survival amongst those who were courageous enough to share their stories.

I saw true determination.

Just like the mourning dove who stayed by her eggs, these men and women have battled through the things that most of us cannot imagine surviving. These men and women have withstood the demeaning glances of those who do not understand. These men and women have longed for the comfort of a place to call, “home,” and they have wept for families who no longer look for them. They have fought demons, and, in most cases, continue to wage war against them, winning some days and losing others. They are not without fault, but when the difficult times came, it was enough to cost them dearly. It could be any one of us who finds himself in a dire situation.

But they persevere. Those who chose to speak with me have formed a community – a family amongst those who know what they are going through. They say hello to me on the street now. They hug me at Starbucks. They tell me what has happened since we last spoke – and I’m equally interested in their lives ~ and, particularly, what their determination has rendered.

Like the mourning dove, one of those whom we interviewed is fiercely determined. This individual is diligent. This individual clutches every opportunity. This person desires to change this life she lives – and, she will. Because she is determined.

I’ve learned a lot over these months. I’ve learned how easy it could be to find oneself in a dire situation. I’ve learned that every person has a story. I’ve seen with my own eyes that everyone brings something to the table about which we are blissfully unaware. I’ve learned that a smile, a handshake, a willingness to care, and a gentle heart can mean the world to a person who has nothing.

Mostly, though, I’ve been inspired by the people who carry on when the world appears to be against them.

Be the warmth in the ice storm, be the smile in someone’s day, be the person who sits with another human being and treats them with value and respect. Be kind. Be the one who encourages and reinforces determination. You see, even though that mourning dove hatched those babies and brought them into this world, her job isn't done yet. She still has work to do. She must remain determined ...

To read all three installments of our Homelessness series, visit:

Week one: the beginning

Week Two: the people -- the stories behind the people who live this difficult life

Week Three: the plan -- what our community is doing and what the future of homelessness might look like.