Resiliency.  That’s a term that comes up often when talking with other service providers, but may not be one the general public recognizes.

Think strength.  Think endurance.  Think courage.

Resilient.  That’s what these young people are.  And we have the opportunity to see their courage and strength and endurance every day.  It is a blessing and a gift.  These are great kids.  We say that a lot too.

When I talk with new volunteers, I’m often challenged by preconceptions. Understandable ones.  The term ‘at-risk’ usually brings to mind gangs and drugs and violence and all sorts of horror stories and movie synopsis.  It is hard to fight against that image because, yes, sometimes that is what at-risk looks like.  But this is what I see:  I see a young man who gets up early every morning to go to work, a man thrilled with his new job.  I see a youth with light and humor and passion despite the real pain and struggle life has thrown his way.  I see a student who studies and goes to sports practice and hangs out with friends and listens to music is the picture of normalcy – except that he doesn’t have a stable place to sleep at night.  I see a young woman who shines with intelligence and humor, works two jobs and helps friends and sets an example for other teens.

I see strength.  I see courage.  I see endurance.  I see resiliency.

What makes a difference – what helps these young men and women use those strengths to make it in the world – is stability.  Without someplace stable and safe to sleep, rest, recharge, and consider your options, you live in crisis.  Almost universally, youth who enter our shelter for the first time head straight for a cot and are asleep in minutes. They are exhausted.  Those who continue to return are able to re-establish sleeping habits they might not have had for a long time.  They start to have enough energy to eat before falling asleep.  And then to talk and hang out. They can start to think about their next option.  But that seldom happens until their brains and bodies can come down out of crisis and begin to recover.

And then their strength can shine.