Why Earning Trust can be Misleading (Follow-up to "Why Do You Trust?)

My Peoples, Hello...

What a topic to tackle. So I'll get straight to some of the thoughts I have on Trust. All week long I had very meaningful conversations with many of you around the world. One common phrase was continually spoken and those words reads as follow: "you know people have to "earn" your trust."

"Earn it, ay?"

Why?

I mean. I really can't stand nicely crafted common sayings. and just like "dating", I'm really struggling with the idea of having to ever earn anyone's trust again. 

Can I please take a moment to say and confirm something - "Just because someone won't trust you, does not mean you are untrustworthy." You tell them the Valet said that. Glad that's covered right! (not a question)

Now. Why is earning trust misleading? 

I hope that I can simplify it so that I don't ramble. I've spent all week rambling. 

Trust is not a tangible object, nor is love, or kindness. Therefore they are not earned, they are something that a person possesses that they willingly give. Now I'm not a preacher, but you can say "amen" if you want to, lol.

We all understand what it is to "earn" a paycheck. We work, they exchange that value in money. If you "earn" a promotion(at work), you are performing above and beyond, or completing more task and maintaining more responsibility. When you earn points on a card, it is because you are already making purchases. 

Earning trust is like working for six months, with no pay, and the job deciding after it all, whether or not you did a good enough job, based on a rubric you did not know. A lot of you may be thinking about an internship you once worked. They idea is that people want you to value what they give you. But why only when it's based in their own selfish comforts. What do I mean?

Should I work for something that you will not give me, based on no particular rubric, for an amount of time that cannot be determined, just for you to eventually give it to me anyway; or not. The idea is nonsense. But this is the cycle that takes place, and frankly, it is wasteful. You don't trust me now. That's OK. If one one day you do, fantastic. And if you don't, that is always your choice. 

But know this. Whether you give it or not, if you do, it's not yours anymore. So let's get real. If trust could be earned, then it would be too easy, I would know how to earn it, I would get it, do what I wanted with it and then my mission would be done. Sound familiar. I mean no offense to my ladies who were once young or are now. But I compare earning trust to a young man who purposely woo's a young lady and plays the role to get the trust so he can get the sex without the ring, without the tie, without the bind, without the commitment. And after he's earned that trust. PROBLEMS. We might all agree that kids don't need to give that kind of trust to each other, but they do, and they are. 

Now, I don't want to distract you so let me wrap this up. I hope you respond and help me think through this more. I'm not by far pessimistic or a downer. I'm just trying to exercise thoroughness in my thinking and reasoning because I argue to learn. So.

Trust is yours. You give it to whom you choose for reasons that belong to you. That trust cannot be regulated. Sometimes, it takes time, for you to build your own confidence the character of another, but don't mistake that for an "in-between trust ". That's not real. Either you do not trust, or you do. It's OK. If you don't trust and are taking time to evaluate a person cool. My advice to myself is not to assume that anyone trust me or has to. It's simple. But as far as my character or me being trustworthy and integral or capable.... not up to you. 

It's just like my job. I Valet. It's my JOB. People don't trust me. But leave their car with me anyway. It's my job, lol.

  

   

State of Confusion - Valet Del Roy [Prod.] Michael James Monsoor

(State of Confusion)... a Look into Perspective

In my teen years, I was absolutely wrapped in my own sight. I'm about 87% sure. Not because I have actual figures of data, just what I've experienced in my life. I wouldn't say that I had tunnel vision, but I would say that my vantage point ruled over others. I had been completely involved in a lot of the mess that comes with adolescence: The attitude, the dating, the looseness, the recklessness, the fights, the drugs, The EVERYthing!

So late in 2007, when I was "pursuing God", or whatever that means to a human, who never really finds God, but rather finds that God reveals Himself at some point in time in some kind of way, which I DO NOT understand...

Yea, some time in 2007, when I began to become involved in various church ministries, the years flew by.  In fact, by 2009, I felt that maybe the last five or six years had gone by without me noticing some particular details.

I hadn't watched TV for some time, I hadn't listened to the radio or any mainstream music for the most part, and I had been so involved in what I could see and find in "my view" that as the culture was shifting, I was present, but not conscious.

Needless to say, once I hit the explorer button again I saw something. It was alarming! It was offensive! It was "two-thousand-nine and beyond!" And what had become normal and the new acceptable really confused me. Of course this is nothing new in life, the World, the U.S.A., my city, your city and so on...

So what was I to do. Suddenly I had recognized that there would soon be a battle coming. One between "Christian culture" (whatever that was suppose to be in my view versus anyone else.) "Modern Culture" (the socially normal and acceptable by way of media outlet/focus/drive) and my conviction. Yes, My Conviction. It battles with the faith and those who are part of it as well as those who are not... So I wrote a song.

Because I felt like the world and I were in a similar place... a "State of Confusion."

Heart for Home ft. Shawn Martin, BJ , Valet Del Roy

That Love - Valet Del Roy

The One

This can turn into a sermon, a teaching, a curriculum, a novel even. So don't do it. Especially because I'm not right now either, but I might. So cut me some slack and don't steal this one. Get it, 'this one', because I titled my post "The One". hahahahaha .......... man I crack myself up. Anyway, let me get this out. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." (scroll down)










I think about relationships all day


For all that I am knowledgeable of and connected to


My relationships


Like a web that I am at the center at, I spread 360 degrees


It's straight, it's bent, it's boxed, it's flat


and all come back to me


My relationships


And something... always... is the closest... it... could possibly be


But all I want would be The One that centers these with me


I am never found alone, when even darkness finds its home, among the space where nothing roams, but lonely it can be


so when it has come down to this


The One becomes my need


In the eyes of all I see this plain as if a mirror placed in front of me is clear your face is what I see how can I see myself in ev-ree-ba-dee that I see when they're not me I only long and look for you where I see me you see my eyes they beg you please reveal yourself so that I see what lie beneath will match that hollow point which leaves me in my grief please be THE ONE!


My relationship.


Heart beating rapidly


Breathe not attached to me


Breathing won't produce peace


For this is how the soul rages


Causing the life to reach and cling


To relationship.


A web is not a road, it's oblivion


A road is not life, at the end from beginning


And this is not the way


The truth is that life is eternal .... ly


God


From my beginning


Death has been with me


"I'm looking for life", I say


but all you keep doing is mocking me


My Relationships.


I realized again you're not The One


The friend, lover, sister, brother, mother, other and EVERYTHING...


I looked again


"you, are not me."


"I'm looking for life" you say


"you, are not... me."


...


"give up" I heard


This came from not my web (lol)


I looked 360 degree and all of them still there


My relationships


"Which one of you have spoken, will you come out in the open, please move closer to this center fill this empty space with me"


Still nothing


Not one connection to my web tugging


"give up" I heard


I knew immediately. "The One"


"It's you, you are the one."


"please come and take this grief, please tell me this could be, who are you I can't see you, who are you,..."


"are you me"


Silence came to me.


then all so suddenly he said


"I AM THAT I AM"


"I AM"


" THE ONE"


....is He. not her. no thing.  not me.

Something About Justice

* Wrote this back in March. Not posted because of recent judicial events but because of the time I had to go back and read what I wrote myself. I hope someone(anyone) can feel this and reflect the same. So here you go.

WE THINK WE UNDERSTAND JUSTICE
AS IF WE HAVE A RIGHT
TO SAY WHO'S WHO
AND WHAT'S WHAT
WHEN IT'S WRONG
AND IF IT'S FAIR
LIKE, WE'RE NOT THAT BAD

LET ME REMIND YOU
NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE
THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ANYWAY

AND I WISH I COULD APOLOGIZE FOR ALL THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT SINCE OUR BEGINNINGS
BUT I CANT
BECAUSE I'VE DONE MY FAIR SHARE OF MESSING THINGS UP MYSELF
YES, ME.

YOUNG BLACK MINISTER, TEACHER, PREACHER, POET, MENTOR, CHRISTIAN
SINNING,  EX-POTHEAD, FORNICATING, LUSTFULLY THINKING, ANGER FILLED, CURSE WORD TALKING, RULE BREAKER, THIEF, MURDEROUS (THOUGH NOT CAUGHT OR CONVICTED), LYING, TOBACCO SMOKING, ALCOHOL DRINKING...

CHRISTIAN

BECAUSE SOME THINGS STILL CREEP IN THERE
AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO LIST ALL MY SINS
AND I PROMISE I'LL GET MAD IF YOU DISTRACT DURING my POEM
EVEN THE LOOKS ON SOME FACES CAUSE ME TO JUDGE YOU
BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RELATE

BUT THAT'S WHY I SAY "WE THINK WE UNDERSTAND JUSTICE"
BUT WE COULD BE THE CORRUPT JUDGES OF THE WORLD
WE OFTEN AREN'T CORRECT
BUT EVERYBODY SINS RIGHT?
THE WORST THING IS THAT WE ADMIT IT, JUST SO WE CAN LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND DEFEND OURSELVES.
SO IF I'M THE JUDGE THEN WHAT IS GOD?

INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE, GOOD PEOPLE GET HURT, BAD PEOPLE GO FREE, AND WE... WE THINK WE GET IT...WE DON'T
BUT WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE WHAT GOD IS IN CONTROL OF?

GUILTY MANKIND WHO REJECT THE ONE WHO'S RIGHT
WHO KNEW WE WOULD FALL, BUT OFFERS US A FLIGHT
WHO KNEW WE WOULD KILL SO HE OFFERED HIS LIFE
WHO KNEW WE'D HAVE TROUBLE SO HE CHOSE TO SAVE US
WE REJECT HIS FREEDOM AND THE PATH HE MADE FOR US
WHO GAVE US A CHOICE TO TAKE THE STRAIGHT ROAD
INSTEAD WE TAKE TURNS AND SHORTCUTS BECAUSE WE CRAVE CONTROL

WE WANT IT ALL, BUT GET MAD WHEN IT'S KEPT FROM US
WHY SHOULD GOD TRUST US
HE DIED FOR US
BUT WE ACT LIKE WE'VE HAD ENOUGH
WE ACT LIKE IS WORD IS A BLUFF
WHAT IF HE LEFT US TO JUST-US
CHAOS WOULD BE A MUST!

BUT NO!

...ONE WORD - JESUS
FOR RULE BREAKING HEATHENS
...CONSEQUENCE OF DEATH
BUT WHO TOOK IT - HE DID!

THAT'S GRACE INSTEAD OF BEING CRUSHED

THAT'S LOVE

THAT'S JUSTICE

Wrote this for you to see.

No not you......

You.

Your opinions are just as strong. Your statements are just as passionate. To not care is funny to me. Most times we may say we don't care at all. But sometimes its just that "I don't care about what you got going on. This is meaningless, because it's meaningless to me." Which is a form of care, at least for self. Self preservation, well, sorta. So if we back out, stop, let it go or whatever, we are making bigger and louder statements than we know. Because it's still a choice. We choose to continue for a reason, and to stop for a reason. Bottom line is. Your opinions are just as strong and your statements just as passionate. You just show it different.

I wrote this because I knew you would see it. Just for fun, just because, smiling the whole time. I know its not serious, and that you don't care. I know, I know. Let it go already. hahahahhhahaha

Are you trying to figure me out? (uh-un)

Call it Eerie
I enjoy staring
Watching
Stealthily going about
As if undetected
Knowing they notice but don't see
Ignoring your thoughts
I'm sure you wonder
... Just call it Eerie

Say it's Diametric
Critically thinking
Actually listening
Loyal to the core
Wanting to love
Formally understanding
No, I'm not balanced
I'm living
... Just say it's Diametric

Think of it as Elicit
Let's empathize
Loving truth and honesty
Guards and strategically placed
I love eye contact
Come close and feel these words
Trust me, I see you
My smile and hug are genuine
... Just think of it as Elicit

It'll help.

WHAT!?

I guess this past week I've really come to appreciate eating again. Last week my wisdom tooth darn near paralyzed me to the point that I had to call and go in to the dentist. (If you know me then you realize how big of a deal that is). Well, of course, the tooth was infected and I've been taking antibiotics for the past seven day now. This tooth is getting yanked out tomorrow! And knowing that I may not be able to eat anything solid for a few days is depressing. It actually makes me want to eat more. With that I reflect: Two weeks ago Tony Evans talked about the infected tooth he had on a cruise that hindered him from enjoying his time and eating. I completely felt his pain as I shook my head chiming in with groans and amens under my breath, haha. The issue arises in the form of problems; the surface problems that we feel the affects of and the actual issues that are the root causes of our felt pain. The sermon was actually about knowing Christ and he illustrated the armor of God in such a clear and profound way...Last night I watched the movie Flight with a roommate of mine, it's a great movie. this morning I watched a matinee movie - Side Effects, also a good movie. The themes of lying and consequences and root causes and the pains that result as the symptoms are intense (If you pay attention and look close enough to see and discern). God speaks, His conviction and words come in ways that I don't always understand and so many times don't even realize. And although I'm thinking deeply and examining things of life, there is a clarity and a slight fog that is subtle and settled. Rather odd I think. Not confusing. It's like shadows that emerge from the fog slowly becoming revealing as you prematurely try to figure the object and form of what is about to emerge. That's some good imagery, right? Like in the movies, hahahaha. So whats the whole point.

Well, I'm just thinking about the pain that drives us to question the, probably already ignored conviction, root causes that makes us respond in truth and have to deal with the consequences. I want to be successful, that is, loving God, speaking truth, loving others, living well and with integrity. Right now I question what the coming days will reveal and result in. We have no idea where God is leading us sometimes and what will become of us. I struggle, I mean, really struggle. I trust God, but not you. Because you refuse to see who I am "in Christ." You judge my symptoms that come from the struggle with sin and don't understand, see, nor recognize the root of salvation in believers. You think Christians, look like, and sound like, [this]. Whatever this means? And unfortunately I began to despise the way you see life, because we're suppose to be the same and I don't understand how you got to that. Aren't you also "in Christ"? Well, then, remember, "he who has eyes to see" see, and "he who has ears to hear" listen. and maybe we'll find ourselves sitting in the same seats. or maybe next to one another. but I doubt it.....Now that's a riddle.

A Strange Thing, This Lonneliness.

It is, a hard but true reality of the amount of loneliness that pervades my generation. So thus, as such, I feel compelled to write here.

It is a strange thing to be known by many, only by name of course. This sense of full engagement with no participation drives me to sorrow often. It's a weird form of rejecting the very thing that one desires. I do think alot of the foundations are the same but the outworking, the response, the reactions definitely become distinct.

I've been a watchful observer for quite a few years now. I've had "friends" tell me how cool we are and how down we are and even more. In these moments I hardly take them serious. Why? you ask. It's simple really. I don't trust you. I value loyalty to a fault, yet I only seek to be such, and really don't expect it. Especially when I see some of these "friends", going out, hanging out, playing sports, collaborating, calling, texting, eating and meeting together; all, without me. But I knew this already. I don't really like cliques. I often don't voice how this feels in certain moments because I hate guilt trips or any unnecessary attention (subjectively speaking). So once I'm seen or it comes to light that it's of notice, I [finally] get an invite, or an excuse. So instead of taking that (this) invite, I'll gladly refuse. Because it's about the principle really. I'm driven to stick to myself now.

I pay attention. Really I do. I love my people. It's true. So I give it all, I sacrifice, I bend over backwards just to be around. Because I believe that there are things more important that being selfish; people need people.

So, you, yes you my..... friend. I know you. I see you. I see through you not past you. Because that smile I see when we greet may be genuine but I kept looking as you past me. I watched your face fall. No!....it's not every case but I feel you sometimes. Because I watch you, all of you. And I feel you, but you don't feel me, you don't see me. My mask is covered by a mask and a mask of masked that are coated with layers of deception. And I can only be me but sometimes I have to ask, "who am I?" or better yet. Who am I right now. But today I'm pretty sure I've already been three versions of me, characters fit for moments that I'm pretty sure I wan not faking. OH! How confusing right? Yea, I feel that way to.

That's why I think it's a strange thing. All these beautiful women before, wanting and longing to be seen, to have some attention in a crowd of blind binoculars. Even more these young men, unlearned and un-led in what to look for, how to see or how to love. The most unfortunate thing is that these young men crave attention just the same. So we do, act, and show out for the attention of somebody, especially these ladies. And I must be the worst of all, because I want them all. and knowing I don't need this burden I fight. Yes, i fight for you. Because I'd rather be alone than to woo your hearts and fail you. And I think I'm pretty good at that no matter how you praise me.

This is a sad day for the Church. Such a lonely Church. Not all of us but way too many.

It is a strange thing to be known by many, only by name of course. This sense of full engagement with no participation drives me to sorrow often. It's a weird form of rejecting the very thing that one desires. I do think alot of the foundations are the same but the outworking, the response, the reactions definitely become distinct.

I pay attention. Really I do. I love my people. It's true. So I give it all, I sacrifice, I bend over backwards just to be around. Because I believe that there are things more important that being selfish; people need people.

So, you, yes you my..... friend. I know you. I see you. I see through you not past you. And I must be the worst of all, because I want them all. And knowing I don't need this burden I fight. Yes, I fight for you. Because I'd rather be alone than to woo your hearts and fail you. And I think I'm pretty good at that no matter how you praise me.

It's a strange thing, this loneliness. I wonder how Jesus felt.

I don't understand Love

A conversation that almost turned argument got me to thinking: why can't we agree that we do not understand "Love." It really does not matter which type of love that may be because it is the essence of "love: that we truly cannot grasp. Before you get ideas about what I'm saying or how you feel, let me add some context to how my conversation with a good friend brought us both to ending it on this idea (not understanding).

This is simple, I stand  behind my point that "love is a choice." My friend says that though love "might" be a choice, love is actually more than that.

Now I could but I will not elaborate much on all that my friend said so I'll try to stick to my own argument, which will probably be sporadic, and I'm sorry if it becomes hard to follow, but I'm kinda thinking on a blank page right now. The truth is that i DO NOT understand love. try to examine with me. maybe a study will come and Ill add all my biblical references. but for now lets just - vent.

God chose to love us

God chose to create us and love us all the same

God is love but love is not God? (God shows us perfect love, we understand it through Him, so when we look at God we should see love even though we don't understand. But, because we don't fully understand love when we look at love we may not see God.)(God = love, but does love = God?)

I can choose to show you love or not to. Even if I felt like I did not chose to love you, if I do not act upon it than is it still love.

Love is not a feeling but with love comes feeling.

If you loved me then why can I chose to reject it. being that

Love is not insane or illogical and Love is not unfair. (we see love through broken lenses and
sometimes through broken hearts and hurt feelings and seemingly shattered dreams we conclude that love is or can be cruel, but if we look to things Biblical, God has been restoring and piecing together the picture as a complete thing. A perfect view that can only be understood by seeing the love of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.)(and if God is the standard of love and has done it perfectly then love is logical and fair and very sane.)(His thought and ways are beyond ours or our understanding.)

Jesus commanded us to love, doesn't that signify that he wants us to chose to obey him and isn't loving God being obedient to him and it says that there is no fear in love because perfect love cast out fear. (so why are we afraid to love.)

We distort love and use it falsely which in reality is not love at all.

What I do know is that through Christ and the cross and the Resurrection that I came to understand just a little of what it means for God to love us, and having loved me in such a way that I should love the same, although my ability to love perfectly is not possible in this flesh.

Can unbelievers love? how about if they marry under the covenant of God, which is obedient, and never cheat or divorce? have they loved each other or even God?; even if unknowingly?

Being made in Gods image gives us the capacity to do certain things, how great may depend on whether or not you are "in him."

Originally we were made in his image and likeness. with sin we lost the likeness. in Christ we are conformed back to his likeness and able to love like he does, to some capacity. maybe?

So did God have to love us? Some say yes! others say no!
All I know is that God is in control and that He chooses what's happening and if all we know about the beginning is that God created (faring that he chose to) then all I can understand is that he also chose to love his creation; and that in every act, whether we understand or not, he continually is expressing his love which was complete in Christ. And that Is a love I do not understand. (As far as i can understand God, that is.) but as for myself, I did not use to love, i thought I had but truly had not, now I strive to truly love in a way that was only exemplified by my Lord. Choosing to to Love God and others through sacrifice and death to self for the sake of Christ name and the edification of the Body. Pointing you to the love i only know being that GOD LOVES YOU! if only you would chose to receive it and then [chose to follow], and thus love in the same.

but i don't know. If you do, I'd appreciate some help on this. or at least some thoughts. because at the end of the day I have to throw up my hand and confess. Maybe I just don't understand love. But i still think it is a choice.

A thought tonight

Often times when people write we look for profound words that strectch down the vertical page(s); and I dont know how I feel about doing that, or even trying to do that right now.

There comes a time in a young mans life when he looks around and notices that no one is there in his moment of unsecured life. When he stands and makes a decision for himself. Not selfishly as if others arent on his mind. But one what cannot be altered because of worry in how that affects them. I dont know how to make that clear. I was thinking these thoughts today. I have not made such decisions yet,but truly I am sixty three days away from it. I dread the moment at this point in time. It changes everything, every plan. Yet, my life is the Lord's. I will not be shaken. So I apologize in advance for the pain that will come. On my end and yours if you may feel such emotions. I love you. And I may have said I never would, but I'm thinking that I just might! Let's keep praying on it.

How? is a hard question!

More recently I've been having problems with the question, how? It's not the general "how?". Like asking how to do something, how an event went, or how birds fly? . It's answering the question, "how are you doing?"....

Why is this such a hard question to answer?

Too often we ask this question without considering the gravity of it. The usual response comes in less than a full sentence. Fine, OK, kinda tired, stray looks or groans like "uugh".... and we accept that. Why?

I know that we are busy people who live fast pace lives on the go and rarely take the time to be real and honest because we value the relationship and time with people who we know.... It's like a long run-on sentence that has no punctuation. And that just wouldn't be sufficient either now, would it? I am guilty of such things. But now I am actually bothered by the question how. I shift in thought, emotion, joy, grief and practice. So how do I truthfully explain that. Each day we are asked this question at least 20 times. How can the answer always be the same? It may be that I am over-analyzing this right now because of all the shifting that is currently taking place within myself, but it has caused me to re-asses how I answer such a question in a truthful way. I have a few responses now:

1. I don't want to answer your question.
2. There isn't enough time to answer that question.
3. Right now? or recently?
4. (I take the time to answer honestly)

I've even tried to not ask the question in passing. I want to know more if I do ask it. I think making good use of time is not valuing time but all that happens within the time you have. 2 minutes, 1 hour, 3 days, or whatever you have. I'd rather have a "hi" and a wave than to be asked "how are you doing?" with no intention of actually knowing. Maybe this is why we're such lonely people most of the time. And trust me, a lot of us are. I've heard it said, I've watched it, I've seen it in the eyes of too many now. But still we continue on the same way without expressing the truth; to someone! In a crowd, we're lonely; at home, we're lonely; in church, we're lonely. If that's not you then I am thankful and pleased. But if that's not you then I hope you open your eyes, because there is probably someone around you who is. And still, sometimes even when we can see it we will accept, fine. OK, maybe we'll press, "no really, I'm OK." but see, we don't want to step on any one's toes do we... It's one thing to have just caught one of those blank moments that people have. It's a whole other issue to actually see  and discern that there's a problem but not labor with somebody to see that they get through.... Proverbs 27:5-6 says "Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

I could go on and on about this and get into other issues. But what I really want is authenticity, integrity, honesty. I need it. Not just from others, but myself.

The "Hunger Strike" guy

Picking up where we left off, with me walking away as Ho Dap rode away on the bus, I walked further down the street and see a bunch of white tents set up in this open square. My curiosity peaked. "Let's go check it out Roc, shooooot, I already got the camera out." So I did. I walked down to the streetlight and crossed during a red light of course. What can I say, it's Chicago. (The city of professional J-walker) and I'm getting pretty good myself.

Back to the moment tho.

I was walking towards the tents trying to figure out what was going on and I had seen a man sitting on one of the benches holding a sign. It read "HUNGER STRIKE!", and I was like "Ouwwww!" so I walk up towards him to see what this was all about... I didn't understand everything on the sign and thought to myself that maybe I missed something in the paper ( I read everyday now) or that something was happening somewhere around the world that I haven't heard yet.

I walked up this man sitting there and asked him "What is the 'Hunger Strike'?" hoping to get answer that might further enlighten me that day. But, he just looked at me and motioned with his palm facing upward to his sign. I was kind of puzzled and thought to myself "I know you ain't deaf". I asked again, "what's up with the sign?", and again he lifted his palm up directing my eyes to his sign. So I asked "Is it OK if I take a picture?" Again he used the same gesture. So I took the picture and told him I'd look it up and blog about it. By this time I really wall full of curiosity and wanted to know why he was on a talking strike too, or maybe that it took too much energy to talk because he was hungry. Either way when I got home I looked up what's been going on in the world of hunger striking. I found out that there's all kinds of things going on in 2011 as far as people doing a hunger strike. From trying to protest against criminal organizations, to cruel prison treatment fighting for due process, the economic crisis and various justice issues around the world....even tho I do not know the man or what he was participating for...at least he was doing something. Some people say that the homeless out here do any and all kinds of crazy things...I say "true".."and?"