What do you want?

I've got a friend who I've talked to about some deep issues over the past year, and something I recently realized is that he always asks the same question: "What do you want?"

That could come off self-centered or materialistic, but that's not the heart of it. The heart is that I, and everyone else really, need goals.

In the midst of emotional pain or stress or the general craziness of life, it's easy to lose sight of what you're after. It's good to evaluate what you want.

I've had a thought that's tried to blossom into an idea for a while now. I have a heart for the homeless, and I've always wondered two things: "How did you get here?" and "Where are you going next?"

The second question here takes the prominence. Essentially, what are your goals? Do you expect to be homeless for the rest of your life? Do you want a simple job? Do you intend to get back to family somewhere else? What are your aspirations? What gives you joy? What are you passionate about?

I'm certain that the homeless have some goals. And if they don't, then they should. They should dream just as big as any of us do.

The point where this thought turns into an idea is when I consider what could I do about that. More importantly: Is there an organization that tries to help the homeless achieve their goals and if not, could I start one? Wouldn't that be amazing? Maybe someone just needs financial advice so they can handle money better. If we knew that, couldn't we get someone to help? Maybe they have skills in some area and just need steady income so they can get a place to stay. Couldn't a school with as much heart for social justice and connections around the world help find this guy a job so he can get back on his feet?

I think the programs out there to help provide food and shelter on a daily basis are great programs. I just think we can dream bigger and do more than that.