Nobody Don't Love Nobody

Did anyone else catch the movie tonight, Beyond the Blackboard? If not, you need to see it and if so, wasn't it amazing! It's a true story and based on the book Nobody Don't Love Nobody. Stacey Bess had just finished college and was looking for her first teaching job. She found one; being the teacher at a homeless shelter with no books or desks and unruly children. However like any amazing story, she triumphed and made a difference in the children's lives and the families in the shelter. 


In one part of the movie Stacey takes one of her children in, Maria because her father has been kicked out of the shelter and has no where to go. Stacey loves Maria and doesn't want her out on the streets so she tells her father she will take Maria in, until he gets back on his feet. Later that night Stacey and her husband on talking and he says she's getting deeply involved. Her response....there are a lot of problems and issues at that shelter and there is no "superman" coming in to save the day. It's up to her. That really got my attention. Like she said there isn't a superman or a batman that will fix the worlds problems. There is only you and me and we have to step up and be that superhero. We can't expect someone else to do it.


We heard a testimony at church today and one of the speakers has definitely been dealt a life with a lot of sadness, grief and heartache. More than anyone should ever have to go through. I had no idea her story was that different from mine. I think we all think that everyone's life is like our own. We don't realize the secrets he's had to keep or the pain she went through. I guess when you don't know anything different you kind of assume everyone is like yourself. We don't know why someone is a drug addict or an alcoholic or has depression or is homeless but we think we do. We judge and criticize. Why is that? The last thing anyone in this world needs is to be condemned. We need love and compassion and kindness and concern and thoughtfulness. We need people to accept who we are. 


One of the speakers at church today said we can respond to problems in life in one of two ways. One-we can say thank you God for getting me into this mess, now I'll get myself out. Or two-God I don't know why this is happening but I'm trusting you and I will fight the good fight with you. Which will you choose?