Nashville Unlimited 2014

Nashville Unlimited Christmas is a tradition that has evolved over the last 15 years and one I've latched onto over the last six or seven of them.

Dave Pomeroy is a long-time, in-high-demand, Nashville session bass player. If you've listened to country music recorded in Nashville over the last 30 years or so, there is a good chance you heard Pomeroy's work on the recording. He also toured for years as a member of Don Williams' band.

While looking for a charity in 1993 to donate money generated by his Christmas concerts and recordings, Pomeroy became aware of Room In The Inn. Two decades later, he openly states his life has been changed for the better and has developed a much greater awareness of the moral and social issues addressed by Room In The Inn. I can state unequivocally I feel the same way - though the slap to my head came about 5 years after it did for Dave.

Each December since 2000, Pomeroy has hosted the “Nashville Unlimited Christmas” concert at Christ Church Cathedral. The production comes across as professional yet informal - though I'm sure the behind-the-scenes logistics may drive one to pull out their hair. Pomeroy calls in an amazing and diverse array of musicians and singers to volunteer a few minutes for a great cause and incredible evening of music. Though many think of Music City as just a country town, Nashville Unlimited has proven to all that the scene is far richer than that. Country is played certainly - but jazz, R&B, big band, rockabilly, instrumentals, a capella songs, etc. are often heard the same evening.

The show isn't heavily promoted, and no tickets are sold. Folks are welcome into the church, and donations are collected. The only reserved, VIP seats are in the first few rows of pews. In those pews sit many of the individuals helped by Room In The Inn's support programs.

Through this simple approach, Pomeroy's efforts have raised in excess of $250,000 to help Room In The Inn and their outreach efforts to the homeless and marginalized of Nashville.

After missing the 2013 concert, I was pleased to attend again this year on December 9th. Pomeroy opened the show with only his bass and vocals. He opened with the traditional O Little Town Of Bethlehem followed his original and fun I Wish It Could Always Be Christmas.


Lorianna Matera (Facebook)was then introduced to sing Willie Nelson's Pretty Paper.

I wasn't familiar with the next performer, songwriter Alan Rhody (web). He performed two of his own songs - White Water and Christmas to Christmas. I learned the latter has been recorded by Lee Greenwood and Toby Keith - ehh, not really two of my faves though hopefully the periodic royalty check is good for Rhody. The song was also recorded, however, by Tanya Tucker. OK, now we may be getting somewhere.


Danny Flowers (Facebook), who wrote the classic Tulsa Time and toured with Pomeroy and Don Williams, then played two songs that were just stunningly powerful - All I Want Is Jesus and I Am Free Of That Today.

Pete Huttlinger (web | Twitter), former guitar player in John Denver's band, then played his original First Light - a guitar instrumental with brushes-on-a-snare accompaniment. He followed it up with an instrumental version of the traditional Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Pomeroy then brought out Doug Seegers (Twitter)- an artist whose story I knew a bit about but whose music I'd not yet heard. The short story is that Long Island native Seegers found himself as a busking Nashville street musician. He was noticed by a Swedish media team visiting Nashville, was video'd performing one of his songs, captured a fan base in Sweden which led to a Swedish recording contract and is now a touring performer in the US and abroad.


His story was picked up by several media outlets including Peter Cooper from The Tennessean and Rolling Stone. His Swedish album has now been released in the US on Rounder Records. With part of the audience currently living a life that has more in common with Seegers' past than my past, present or future (hopefully), his songs really hit home.

Seegers opened his trio of songs with his sad but Christmas-influenced song, Daddy's Still Around.


He then played Down To The River, the same song he first played for his new friends from Sweden. The closer for the set was a new, yet-to-be released song titled Walking On The Edge Of The World written about a close friend who committed suicide.


Soul singer Charles "Wigg" Walker (web | Twitter) then took us to church. He absolutely stunned the crowd with his version of O Holy Night. and closed with a grooving version of I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Country icon Brenda Lee then took the stage as the show headed for its conclusion. She started with the classic Jingle Bell Rock.  She then asked for volunteer singers - and ended up with about a dozen of them on stage - to help her with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. She closed with two of her big hits from decades ago - I'm Sorry and Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.

The closer was Nashville Mandolin Ensemble - the one group I look forward to hearing more than any other each year. The music of the multi-member mandolin "orchestra" is not what one may think it might sound like. NME isn't bluegrass. It's truly orchestral music with songs ranging from The Beatles to Bach to mandolin renditions of other world music.

While they generally play the same set of songs at each annual concert, I can close my eyes and enjoy them as if I'm hearing each for the first time. The list of bad Christmas albums by many performers is a mile or more long. But the one by NME is not in that list. Gifts is excellent - yet sadly and ironically is out of print. I often encourage folks to seek it out on ebay or the like.

Pomeroy and NME then asked the crowd to join them in singing Silent Night to close the 2-1/2 hour show.

For the last couple of years, I've kept a badge at the top right of this blog for Room In The Inn. The graphic includes a simple link to their website, and I hope a few folks have been intrigued enough to follow the link. If you live in the middle Tennessee area and are reading this post, I encourage you to visit the site, learn about what RITI does, and consider making a donation at the Support link.

If you live outside of Nashville, I'm sure they'd RITI would appreciate your support. But perhaps consider finding a similar organization where you live and give to that group. A gift as simple and calendar-relevant as $20.14 would definitely be appreciated - especially as the temperatures continue to drop over the next few winter months.

TMC

Nashville Unlimited 2011

An overdue - and now somewhat dated - blog entry. December 25, 2011, is now so far back that its not even in our rear view mirror anymore. After the build-up to Christmas, we all zip through the day like a hot knife through butter. Then we move on to taking down decorations, celebrating New Year's Eve, watching bowl games, and bitching about winter weather.

Before leaving the season completely though, I wanted to post a show review. Nashville Unlimited has become somewhat of a Christmas tradition for me in recent years. Prominent Nashville bassist Dave Pomeroy pulls together many wildly talented performers for the show.

Each year the show is held at Christ Church Cathedral. Most of the performers are not announced beforehand. I've seen John Prine, The Steelriders, Emmylou Harris, Tommy Emmanuel, and Riders In The Sky just to name a few. No tickets are sold, and little promotion is done. The only thing asked of folks who attend is to make a donation to support Room In The Inn.

Hatch Show Print for 2011 Nashville Unlimited

RITI is a Nashville-based homeless-assistance organization. I began helping with some of RITI's programs about 12-13 years ago. Their programs are wonderful and impactful, and I credit the staff and the folks they serve with changing my views (for the better) towards the homeless.

Throughout this year's 2-1/2 hour show, Dave repeatedly reminded us about the purpose of the evening - to support RITI. Folks certainly enjoyed the music, but he frequently mentioned RITI, its programs, and that folks in the back of the room would continue to take donations. Over the last few years of this show, over $100,000 has been collected and donated to Room in the Inn.

As for the music, Pomeroy hit a grand slam for this year's show. So many folks - outside and inside Nashville - generally label Music City as a 'country' town. Some may even broaden it to include bluegrass or Americana. But 2011 Nashville Unlimited featured country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, Mandolin-laden Celtic, baroque classical, and even big band - many genres rarely associated with Nashville.

The show opened with two a-cappella, bluesy songs by The McCrary Sisters - No Room At The Inn and Silent Night.

Next up was songwriter Danny Flowers. I didn't recognize the name, but I made the connection as soon as Dave introduced him. Flowers has been a Nashville-based songwriter since the mid 1970s. His most well-known song is likely Tulsa Time, recorded by Don Williams and later Eric Clapton. Flowers said he wrote a song just for the evening over the Thanksgiving holidays. He gave no title for it, but the refrain repeated "...All I want is Jesus..." It was a wonderful number. I hope he performs it elsewhere next Christmas season and that someone ups it to YouTube. Next he sang the old hymn In The Garden a capella - again, a very moving few minutes.

Daniel Tashian from a new group named The Boxwoods then played the Christmas classic, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire ... on a ukelele. Yep. And it was great. Not Don Ho'ish at all. Afterwards, his bandmates joined him to sing a song titled Christmas Time At Last. One of the band members is Tom Littlefield. Tom once fronted the Nashville-based pop-rock band, The Questionnaires in the 1980s. The title track to their major label EMI debut, Window To The World, was covered by Shawn Colvin (YT). Littlefield also collaborated with Tommy Womack to pen a fave of mine from There I Said It, I Couldn't Care Less (YT).

Music City Baroque followed The Boxwoods. This Nashville ensemble played two classical songs - neither of which I know the title. But hey, toolittleculture can wreck toomuchcountry so I just rolled with it. The thing that really captured my attention; however, was the oddest string instrument I've ever seen. The guy playing it said it was called a theorbo - or just a 'bass lute' if one wants to take the simple route.

This isn't the guy who played the theorbo. He was just in the way of a good picture I found of the instrument.

In the past, Dave Pomeroy has generally opened the evening following his intro comments. For this year's show, he waited until about half-way through it and sang his creation I Wish It Could Always Be Christmas. He even donned the Christmas tree hat he is wearing in his video of the song.

After only one number, Pomeroy brought out Pat Bergeson and wife Annie Sellick. Bergeson was a long-time guitarist for the legendary Chet Atkins. (I also learned he is the ex of bluegrass great Allison Krauss.) Following the death of Chet, he joined Lyle Lovett's band and performed with other greats. He and Annie performed two jazzy numbers, That's What I Want For Christmas and Christmas Memory.

The first year I attended Nashville Unlimited, Pomeroy introduced Nashville Mandolin Ensemble - another completely unknown group to me. I was prepared to hear a song or two of nasally bluegrass Christmas carols. Instead, they blew me away with their complex arrangements of worldly music. Since that first year, they have become a favorite of mine for the show. If you can put yourself back in the Christmas mood briefly, seek out their now out-of-print Christmas CD Gifts. Their four-song set consisted of:

• Carol of the Bells
  
• Dance of the Mirlitons (from The Nutcracker)
  
• Medley of songs
  
• O Holy Night (vid from a performance of it at Nashville's weekly Music City Roots show at the Loveless Barn)
  

After a quick re-arrangement of the stage, the Time Jumpers performed three numbers. There has been a buzz about town about this group as they play each Monday at The Station Inn. A somewhat 'super group' of western swing, the band has rotating band members including Vince Gill and Ranger Doug from Riders in the Sky. I have no idea of the first number they performed - though it did include some nifty guitar picking by Gill. Ranger Doug had us scratching our heads a bit with a yodeling-laced second Christmas tune. And the group closed with All Of Me. I found it interesting Gill was just part of the band. He didn't front it. He didn't step front and center. He barely acknowledged the applause following his intro and later guitar solo. He was just a band member.

The night closed with the most logistically-challenging and most unexpected group, Duffy Jackson's Big Band. Yet again - here was another group I'd never heard of despite my having lived in and around Nashville for many decades. Jackson is a highly talented jazz and big band drummer, and his gigs included a stint with the Count Basie Orchestra. Pomeroy's stage hands had to move a lot of chairs and mic stands to accommodate the 20-piece or so band. But they did so quickly, and Jackson's group tore into Winter Wonderland, White Christmas and Sleigh Ride. While Duffy looks like he may have been separated at birth from Seinfeld's Newman, he has some mean jazz drumming skills

I wanted to blog a review of the show. But I also wanted to re-state the purpose of the evening - to support Room in the Inn. Based on a great idea suggested to me by Rockstar_Aimz, I've added a sidebar graphic with a link to RITI. On their main page, one can easily find the 'contribute' link - if you'd like to join me in supporting this great and much needed organization. I'll plan to leave it available for the foreseeable future.

TMC

In recognition of MLK Day

Off and on the last couple of days, I've pondered if I should blog something about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. During lunch today, I read the January issue of The Contributor, a newspaper published and sold by the homeless of Nashville, and a poem contributed by Jesse Hayes jumped off the page at me.

I don't know Jesse, but I think I understand the basic message of his poem knowing he has been homeless. Yet like all poetry and lyrics to a song, a poet's or composer's original meaning is often different when interpreted by the eyes, ears, heart, and mind of another reader or listener.

Reading Jesse's poem today brought to my mind images of MLK and the civil rights movement for which he so passionately fought.

The Struggle - by Jesse Hayes

Time after time I find I'm drowning in a sea of despair
doubtfully I open up my eyes searching for a road that leads somewhere
when it seems that all hope is gone memory brings back to me what your love has done
so I'll glory in all my tribulation knowing that it will make me strong
surrounded by a great could of witnesses
I'll struggle until the race is won
I'll struggle until the race is won
I'll struggle until the race is won

Faith is being sure of what we hope for
certain of what we do not see
when the trumpet sounds and Jesus comes to take us
I pray my faith will still abide in thee.

TMC

Trying to live Christmas

With each passing year, I find myself more cynical and frustrated by the month of December. Like Charlie Brown and Linus, I try to see Christmas for what its meant to me. But I get all bound up in the commercialism, who's supposed to get what, what day do we have to leave, when are we getting back, reciprocal card giving, hey! they'll love this gift card, atheists hatin' on Christians, "peace seeking" Christians spewing hate back at non-believers, Music Row hacks trying to squeeze yet another consumer dollar with a seemingly endless supply of lame country music Christmas albums, etc.

One spot of peace for me the last three years - including a few hours last week - has been at Project Homeless Connect. A Nashville organization called The Key Alliance has some lofty and noble goals of raising funds to implement programs to end chronic homelessness in Nashville over the next 10 years. One of those initiatives is to have a one-day event called Project Homeless Connect.

PHC offers a single-day event where homeless folks can get help in a myriad of ways and on a priority-assessed basis. Personal identification, coats, shoes, a haircut, a dental exam, an HIV test, legal services, pet care, housing applications, etc.

The group with whom I spent part of the day was Room in the Inn. I've blogged about this organization before, and I'm likely keep doing so in the future. In the Nashville/middle Tennessee area, RITI is perhaps best known for helping the homeless get a place to stay for a night in local churches and synagogues from November 1 through March 31.

But the organization is so much more. They have an art lab, technology and other job training classes, sessions on how to get a GED, a post office box for folks needing an address for an employer, drug and alcohol dependency sessions, and so on.

One of the most spiritually-grounded and humbling services they offer once a week is feet washing and care. A foot-washing center was set-up at PHC - and that's where I spent a few hours.

Now, before you get any ideas - I didn't go "all in". I was more than willing to empty, clean and refill the wash tubs; sanitize nail trimmers and pumice pads; ensure the volunteers had fresh towels to use; give out socks to the guests; and greet folks with a smile and "how ya doin' today?". Yet, I just couldn't muster that last bit of Christmas spirit to wash the feet of others myself.

Note: The rest of the pictures below were taken by various folks throughout the day. Clicking them will take you to their Facebook page, Twitpic site, etc.

I hustled as much as I could amongst the 8 to 10 wash stations we had going at once.

• Emptying a tub here and there.
  
• Signaling a heads up to the sign-in table when we had an open station.
• Giving a large garbage bag to a few folks as their only "luggage" to carry a few meager possessions.
  
• Trying to get a read from the body language of those who volunteered to wash to anticipate who may be ready for a break.

But frequently, I found myself pausing to just take it all in ... again. I've witnessed this scenario more than once - yet its always dramatic in a subtle way.

The volunteers took about 20 minutes per guest - TWENTY MINUTES - to wash and dry their feet, trim nails, do a simple visual inspection for signs of a larger clinical problem, massage the feet with lotion, and put on a pair of fresh socks.

To witness the humility required to give that level of personal attention to someone is inspiring.

Similarly, it takes a special person to sit in the chair and receive that level of attention. Homeless folks own essentially nothing from a material perspective. The one thing many of them possess and hold onto, however, is their pride. Sometimes that level of pride may be too great to allow one's self to receive this type of gift. To see folks have a healthy dose of pride - or moderate their strong supply of it - in order to receive the offering of the foot care is equally inspiring.

At the end of the day, RITI volunteers served about 100 people - men and women, young and old, black and white. I was there for about half the day and left feeling I had experienced part of Christmas.

At the same time, I had a twinge of guilt for not being able shelve part of my pride and cross that line to more fully immerse myself in the experience. Maybe next time...

Here are a few links for those who want to know more about homeless relief in the Nashville area. Even if you don't live in the area, I'm quite sure the info at these sites will spur some ideas for action for wherever you are. We certainly don't have the market cornered on this problem.

The Key Alliance - Web - Twitter
Project Homeless Connect - Twitter
Room In The Inn - Web - Twitter
The Homeless Guy - Blog

TMC

2009 Nashville Unlimited

My view of homeless folks was permanently altered for the better about 12 years ago. I always had a sympathetic view of the homeless. But conflicting feelings would collide if I saw someone in need of help - give 'em some cash? offer them suggestions for where to go? avoid them and head to the other side of the street? label them as bums? pause a moment for a conversation? Other than giving a dollar or two here and there and wondering what I should do, "inaction" was probably the best word to describe my view.

Upon being introduced to Nashville's Room in the Inn program, however, my level of involvement changed from inaction to participation. Each night from November 1 through March 31, approximately 200 folks (primarily men) are sent to local churches for a warm, safe place to sleep, a couple of meals, some basic amenities, and genuine hospitality. About 160 churches participate on varying nights during this time.

During the day, Room in the Inn's campus is bustling with activity - an art room, GED and job training, a place to make a phone call, a post office, showers, etc. The ministry truly is a blessing to the homeless of the Nashville and all of those who participate in its programs. I've spent the night with these guys, driven vans, cooked meals, run mail call, distributed clothing, played checkers (got my arrrse whipped most of the time!), shared dinner and a cup of coffee, and laughed with folks I otherwise would never have met.

For the last 10 years, one of Nashville's most prominent musicians, bassist Dave Pomeroy, has organized and emceed Nashville Unlimited. The show's duality of simplicity and diversity represent its charm. The simplicity is this: recruit from a seemingly unlimited pool of singers/bands to perform, play at a church, sell no tickets, use word of mouth promotion, ask for donations to listen, and building gets full = doors close. That's it (at least outwardly - there is far more controlled chaos behind the scenes than I likely care to know).

The diversity is in the music. Dave books three solid hours of music with the only breaks being minor stage changes from band to band, microphone adjustments, and an update or witness about Room in the Inn itself. Some performers are book-its - they've been there every year. Some are announced in advance. And many are "surprise guests". This year's surprises included Emmylou Harris and John Prine.

This year's show was this past Wednesday, and the performances may be as varied as I've seen before. Here ya go with the set list and of course some commentary along the way.

1. Dave Pomeroy - Stargazing - He said the writing of this song was influenced by the three wise men - bass solo with bass #1
2. Dave again - Not Forgotten - Dave said it was written years ago, but it finally became relevant to him in 2009 because of a year of personal losses - bass #2 used
3. Don Henry - My Favorite Things
4. Lori Ann Patera with Henry and Pomeroy (on bass #3) - Pretty Ribbons
5. Will Smith - medley of Christmas songs on an autoharp
   
6. Joey & Rory - apparently they were on CMT's Can You Duet show and have been featured on Overstock.com commercials - can't say for sure because I haven't seen either - but their Christmas song got a lot of applause so Dave asked them to play a 2nd one
7. So they did...a song about the hardships of the long-gone folks who built their 1870s-era house where they currently
8. Coral Bay Steel Drum Trio - Frosty the Snowman on steel drums... I can honestly say I've never heard Frosty quite that way.
   
9. They continued with a reggae version of Go Tell It on the Mountain
10. They capped off their three-song list with Silent Night
11. 18 South - Santa Claus is Back in Town - a bluesy number
12. 18 South again with a gospel number - it jammed but I have no clue about the title
    
13. Emmylou Harris - Beautiful Star of Bethlehem - holy cow, is it even possible Emmylou is 60?
    
14. Emmylou - Home Sweet Home
    
15. Riders in the Sky - Christmas Time Is Coming
16. RITS - Let It Snow
17. RITS - Give Thanks
    
18. RITS - I'll Be Home for Christmas
19. Music City Baroque - a Handel composition - We got our culture on!
    
20. MCBE - More Handel - Rejoice
21. Steve Wariner - Christmas in Your Arms
22. SW - Let It Snow

Steve then told a great story about the photo shoot for a Christmas album he released in the early 1990s. He had the grand idea to involve his young kids, a sleigh, a horse, some fake snow, and a dog. However, during the shoot his kids wouldn't cooperate much, and the dog hated the horse. As the shutter snapped, the dalmatian constantly growled grrrrr as he kept his eyes trained on the horse.

23. SW - Christmas Morning
24. SW - Our Savior Is Born

As Wariner finished and Pomeroy walked him off the stage, Dave returned chuckling, shaking his head, and said something to the effect of "Well, you never know about these surprise guests. This next singer-songwriter has just surprised me by being here. Here he is - perhaps the best singer-songwriter around." With that, he introduced John Prine.

25. John Prine - Crazy As A Loon. After he finished, Prine quipped "well, the only thing Christmasy about that song was I didn't even say Christmas in it."
26. JP - Hello In There (vid link for those who've never heard this haunting classic)
    
27. Nashville Mandolin Ensemble - Carol of the Bells (MP3) from their out-of-print Gifts CD. Get it used if you can!
    
28. NME - Christmas in County Kerry (vid link)
    
29. NME - Dance of the Mirlitons from the Nutcracker Suite
30. NME with John Cowan singing - Ava Maria
31. Sweethearts of the Rodeo - Get Together (yes, that Get Together)

Two additional humorous moments:

Before the show: Because seating is based on first-come-first-served, a line started forming on the sidewalk out side the church several minutes before the doors opened. As I stood their...outside a church...waiting to hear a multi-hour music show...to support the cause of the homeless. Yet a handful of folks near me wearing nice fur-lined coats started bitching about having to stand on the sidewalk in the cold. Oh the irony...

After the show: I heard one guy explain to another: "No, it was Henry, Don Henry - not Don Henley. (Speaking to others) He thought he was going to hear and see Don Henley from The Eagles."

TMC

Helping the Homeless of Nashville

Homeless folks struggle to eke out a life on the streets every day of the year. I don't even begin to pretend I have a full understanding of all the causes for homelessness. Some folks have drug or alcohol problems. Some suffer from domestic abuse and head to the streets to avoid it. Some find themselves on the streets due to mental illness. Some are on the street as the result of multiple or even a single indiscretion. Some are lifers on the street. Some are homeless for only a short period of time. Some have recently become homeless because of their bottomed-out economic situation. Some hold jobs but simply don't make enough from one week to the next to secure and maintain a place to live.

Regardless of the reason why, the facts remain the same. Folks are homeless, they're vulnerable, and you can help in ways perhaps you haven't of. This time of year I wanted to highlight a few ways for individuals to help for a couple of reasons.

• One, its getting friggin' cold on the street, and warm, safe places to stay can be scarce. Support organizations need volunteered time and financial support to provide housing, food, clothing, and other types of relief.
  
• Two, an attitude of giving is in the air this time of year, and folks are seeking ways to help with dollars and/or time.
  

Here are a few ways to get involved - especially if you are in the Nashville, TN area.

Wednesday, December 9 - Project Homeless Connect at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville - Project Homeless Connect is a one-day event to provide one-stop professional support, community agency services, and quality of life resources to homeless individuals and families. Homeless individuals and families can get medical assistance, shoes, foot care, dental care, haircuts, job assistance, legal help, etc. PHC has several opportunities to help - including helping at some of the individual support booths, data entry as folks are processed through the reception area, greeting folks with a smile, etc. Visit PHC on the web, follow them on Twitter @PHCNashville, and volunteer by clicking here. I'll be there from 8:00 until noon helping with Room in the Inn's booth.

(Hat tip to Kevin Barbieux)

Sunday, December 13 - Eddie & Martha Adcock will host the 10th Annual Bluegrass Benefit Concert to support Room in the Inn and the homeless at the famed Station Inn.

Wednesday, December 16 - Nashville Unlimited - Each December, Nashville session bassist Dave Pomeroy hosts Nashville Unlimited, a Christmas music show, to benefit Room in the Inn, a phenomenal ministry supporting Nashville's homeless. This year's concert is December 16 at Christ Church Cathedral. No tickets are sold, and an admission price isn't set. People who attend are simply asked to donate at the door what the heart and wallet agree to. Admission is first come, first serve until the pews are full and fire codes say "no mas". The artist line-up is never announced in advance either. You can always expect Nashville Mandolin Ensemble and Three Ring Circle to perform (Hint: Buy NME's out-of-print Gifts CD if you want to really enhance your Christmas music collection). But everyone else is generally a surprise. In past years, I've seen folks like John Prine, Emmylou Harris, The Steeldrivers (vid), Riders In The Sky, and Tommy Emmanuel (vid). Here is my blog entry about the 2008 show. Wait...was I really still blogging on MySpace 12 months ago? Wow.

Outside of Nashville? Don't worry about it. The one truism about homelessness is you can find such folks in just about every city. Simply find a way to get involved to help.

An additional way you can help year-round is to prep a few "manna bags". Do you travel? If so, grab the unused soap, shampoo, and hand lotion from your hotel room and add it to a ziploc bag when you return. Add a few other essentials or nice-to-haves (e.g. a pair of socks - priceless for life on the street, small tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, prepaid phone card, 2 or 3 Nutrigrain or power bars, a bottle of water, disposable razor). Voila! - you've got a manna bag you can give someone living on the street! Keep a couple of these in your car, and give them away when you see someone in need. You obviously don't have to be in Nashville to make this effort happen.

For more ideas about what to include, visit these sites:

• The Homeless Guy - Gift Bags
• All Pro Dad's Play of the Day

For a first hand blog account from someone who lives on the street, read The Homeless Guy's blogs (different entries at each blog):

• Wordpress
  
• Blogspot
• Facebook
  

TMC

Nashville Project Homeless Connect

"...so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him... ' ~ John 13:4-5

Earlier this month, I spent a few hours volunteering at the Project Homeless Connect in Nashville. Specifically, I spent time with some tremendous folks at Room in the Inn's foot care booth. I watched with awe as nursing students from Vanderbilt University and Motlow College took time washing the feet of the homeless, trimming their nails, and inspecting their toes for signs of larger problems such as diabetes.

My meager efforts were to welcome folks, distribute some literature, answer a handful of questions, and give socks to the nursing students when the feet were dry. These folks didn't rush through their effort or ignore the person being served - either by not talking to them or talking around them. Instead, they welcomed each person with a smile and introduction and talked to them off-and-on during the foot care. It was a truly a Christ-like moment seeing this amount of compassion generously doled out.

Some three weeks or so later, these caregivers finally got their props with an article in The Tennessean buried in the local news section. But at least someone finally took notice of the tremendous compassion offered that day.

One quote jumped off the page for me. While spoken by one of the nursing students, it succinctly states my feelings each time I have the opportunity to spend time with these folks.

"I realized how fortunate I am and how my problems are minute compared to not having food or shelter," she said. "It was a very humbling experience, and I walked away thanking God for my life and praying for those not as fortunate."

If you are in the greater Nashville area, please find a way to help support and serve with Room in the Inn. Its truly a tremendous program.

For more info, you can check out their web site at www.chd-nashville.org/room-in-the-inn.html.

TMC