Homelessness Takes No Holiday

Today's a holiday - President's Day. Many of us either don't get this holiday off from work or decide to work anyway, after all it's not July 4th or Thanksgiving. I've spent most of my President's Day locked in my office, without the usual and necessary interruptions, trying to catch up on email, paperwork, and other routine matters. Twice today, shelter guests have come by my office asking for a moment of my time - no problem. As I started wrapping up my work to go home, the fact that today is a holiday, but not for all, really struck me. I chose to work on President's Day. I chose not to stay home with my family, or go shopping, or catch a mid-day movie. I'm thankful that I can choose what I do on this holiday. For many of the men we serve, today isn't a holiday. For some its a day off without pay because their employer is closed to celebrate President's Day. For others it's just another day. After all, homelessness takes no holiday. I wonder what Presidents Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln would think of that?