Day one

Today was not your ordinary start to a new job. Instead of walking around the office for a tour, I walked for hours around downtown Indy searching for resources for the homeless.

They called this activity "Walk a Mile in your Neighbor's Shoes." We teamed up with a youth group that had come on a mission trip and ran around from government buildings to service agencies to hospitals, universities, and more. We were not allowed to use any money of our own, and we had been asked to leave all cell phones and personal belongings at the shelter. By day's end, we all had sore feet and were absolutely exhausted. I loved it.

There were several major benefits to the activity. First, it acquainted me really well with a large number of agencies and services I could be working with. Second, it significantly improved my understanding of the geography downtown. Third, it developed within all of us a deeper sense of empathy for the city's homeless population. It was difficult enough for us to complete all our tasks, and we didn't even have to fill out all the paperwork. On top of that, we had at least a list of paperwork that would be helpful to us. Most homeless men and women do not even have that luxury.

Still, at the end of the day, I had a home to come back to. And a roommate to process the experience with. And dinner, when I wanted it.