Terracotta Warriors in Pits Image Courtesy of Alan J. Stone

Pit 1 - The Infantry

Terracotta Kneeling Archer Image Courtesy of Alan J. Stone

Pit 1, accidentally discovered by the workers in 1974, is the largest of the pits.  Rectangular in shape, it measures approximately 150,000 square feet, or almost the size of three football fields. This section has the majority of the army--the infantry--containing bowmen and crossbowmen.

In battle formation, rows of unarmored standing archers holding crossbows make up the front line.  Behind them are armored kneeling archers. Between the armored archers are war chariots with horses.

Author and Archaeologist Yuan Zhongyi informs us that one line of warriors firing, together with another line kneeling to reload, create a fast moving vanguard and a steady stream of potent fire.

Pit 2 - The Calvary

Archaeologists discovered Pit 2 in 1976 slightly north of Pit 1.  It is L-shaped and half the size of the first pit.  This section is the calvary comprised of largely archers carrying crossbows.  Saddled horses with riders carrying bows and melee weapons are also a part of this group.

As in Pit 1, the unarmored warriors in the front rows are standing; the warriors behind them are kneeling.

The main force of this section is composed of eighty war chariots whose purpose is to overwhelm the enemy.  Almost all of the chariots have two warriors and a charioteer--except for six chariots that each have a warrior, a charioteer, and an officer.

Pit 3 - The Command Post

Pit 3, located east of Pit 2, was also discovered by archaeologists in 1976.

War Chariot With Horses Image Credit: JULIAN MASON via photopin cc

Smaller than the other two and U-shaped, it is the command post.  Inside this section are sixty-eight warriors, some of which stand in a face-to-face formation near high-ranking officers as if to protect them.  There are also nine armored generals and a grand chariot with horses. Researchers believe that the grand chariot may have been for the commander of the army.

Terracotta General Image Credit: PeterThoeny via photopin cc

The generals of this group wear bright colored scarves, tassels tied to their armors, different headgear, and complex hairstyles. They carry no weapons, ride in chariots, and beat out signal codes on large drums to the warriors.








The Mausoleum and the Burial Chamber

First Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi Image Credit: Erin Van V via photopin cc

The Twenty-Something Homeless Population


Months ago I was approached by a homeless woman in her early twenties in the parking lot.  She wanted spare change so she could go into a motel room to take a shower.

For me, giving or not giving money requires serious thinking.  On one hand, the majority of the homeless on the streets have substance abuse issues.  I don't want to enable them.  And on the other hand, a shower is a basic necessity and a luxury in the homeless world.

On this particular day I didn't have money to give.  The decision was automatically made for me.  However, I sensed the young woman needed a shower, so I did the next best thing--I gave her resources of shower facilities for the homeless.

After I gave her the information, we talked about her homelessness and the reasons for the large twenty-something homeless population.

She informed me that she had to leave home due to family conflicts and unresolved issues.  She was no stranger to homelessness, and spent years on and off the streets.  She did some "couch surfing," but eventually landed on the streets 24/7.  There was no other place to go.

As for the reasons for the twenty-something homeless population, she believes many people her age have drug-related issues, hold vastly different views from their parents, and experience constant friction at home.  Home is a battlefield, and the young adults either leave or get kicked out.



Note: Every effort was made to protect the identity and respect the privacy of the person above. 

Disclaimer: The content regarding to give or not to give to the homeless is only my opinion and is not meant to sway your decision.  That decision rests solely with you.

A Tribute to a Courageous Homeless Lady

I met Christine (not her real name) on the street months ago.  She was homeless on foot.  She must have been in her mid-to-late sixties.  She was friendly and cheerful.  If it weren't for the scarf that covered the majority of one side of her face, you wouldn't have known she was very ill.

As we talked, Christine kept pulling down the scarf to make sure no part of that side was exposed.  She told me she had a malignant tumor that was gross looking, and she didn't want me to see it.

Christine said the doctors did everything they could for her, and she was at peace with her situation.  The tumor was growing and oozing, and she was biding her time.

After Christine left, I sobbed.  She was a lovely woman, and it saddened me greatly that she had to or chose to spend the rest of her days alone on the street.

I saw Christine two more times and after that she didn't return to the area.  I talked with several homeless people who knew her, and they had not seen her in a while.  They assumed the worst.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Christine, a very courageous lady.




Note: Numerous details were omitted to respect the privacy and protect the identity of the homeless person above.  

I share this brief story with you because most people do not hear about the tragedies that happen in the homeless life.

                                                       
                 
                                                          "Tough times never last, but tough 
                                                           people do!"
                                                                      
                                                                               - Robert H. Schuller



It takes a great deal of strength to endure homelessness.  The harsh, unrelenting lifestyle erodes the body and the mind.  Whether the homeless are on foot or in cars, many of them live life on a moment by moment basis, struggling to get through the day.

Homelessness is extremely challenging.  It is a life of tribulations.  For many of the homeless, the longer they are on the streets the more difficult it is for them to endure the lifestyle and its conditions.  To meet the demands of the homeless life, they must bend, stretch, and push themselves beyond their limits.  In time, surviving homelessness becomes a battle of the body, the mind, the emotions, and the spirit.  It is an inner conflict of how much the homeless can take before they break.  It is a fight for strength and endurance.

The following are the four battles that the homeless go through on a continuous basis:

1.  The Battle of the Body

The physical effects caused by the weather, the lack of basic necessities, periodic sickness, and sleep deprivation bring considerable burden and challenges to the homeless.  They place big demands on the body that is already under a lot of stress.  The body has to go into battle and fight to overextend itself, and to keep dealing with prolonged periods of discomfort and exhaustion. Eventually the body learns to live with the physical effects and ignore its needs.

Here are some physical effects that come with the lifestyle and the territory:

Weather Conditions, Lack of Necessities, and Sickness - The homeless are continuously exposed to weather conditions--heat, cold, and rain.  Of the three elements, the most difficult to deal with are the heat and the cold.  Rain is a major problem, but it is more of a nuisance compared to the other two.

In the summer months the homeless focus on getting through the day.  They move around constantly, looking for a shady spot or a cool place to escape the heat.  Dehydration and heat exhaustion are common.  Persevering the heat is one problem; handling the physical discomfort from the heat is another.

Since the homeless lack basic necessities and access to showers, they have periods of uncleanliness.  Soiled clothing, dirty hair, and body odor are unbearable. They are offensive to others as well as to the homeless.  It takes extraordinary tolerance to live with uncomfortable conditions that become more unpleasant over time.  The homeless learn to put up with it and press on.

The winter months are no better.  In fact, they are worse.  Trying to stay warm while living outdoors is close to impossible.  The homeless contend with the cold, the wind chill factor, and the fog.  Getting through the night is a long, dreadful ordeal.  And when the homeless are sick, it compounds their problems.

Imagine what it would be like if you were sick with a terrible cold or the flu, unable to stay warm, without medicine, and sleeping outdoors in 40 degree weather. (It is colder in other states and in other parts of the world.)  The homeless go through this every winter.

Sleep Deprivation - In addition to weather conditions, the homeless also deal with sleep deprivation.  Getting a good night's sleep in the homeless world is unattainable.  Street life is not conducive to sleep.  Street lights, car alarms going off, the parking lot sweeper driving up and down the lot, the trash collector emptying the dumpster, and more make it hard to rest.

As a result of the above, the homeless suffer from inadequate sleep and fatigue. Sleep deprivation hinders the ability to function and cope, making life more difficult.  And because the body is depleted from a lack of sleep and rest, fatigue sets in.  Sometimes the fatigue is so severe that the homeless fall asleep on the sidewalk in broad daylight.

2.  The Battle of the Mind

To a large degree, how well the homeless fare in this lifestyle depends on fortitude and attitude.  Because homelessness is overbearing, the homeless must be mentally tough and possess the right attitude.

There is a constant battle to stay strong and not give up.  With the following fortitude and attitude, the homeless can persevere and not get consumed by the lifestyle:

Fortitude - According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, New Edition, fortitude is defined as "strength of mind that enables one to meet danger or bear pain or adversity with courage."  This definition summarizes the kind of mental toughness the homeless need to sustain them.

Fortitude helps the homeless face the dangers of street life, endure pain and suffering, control overwhelming emotions, stay in faith, and live in hard times. It is fortitude that gives them the mental strength to transcend their situation and to keep moving forward.

Fortitude is the first line of defense against homelessness.  A positive attitude is the next line of defense.

Attitude - As with everything in life, and especially when it comes to homelessness, attitude is the determiner.  Attitude sets the tone for how the homeless go through the experience.  It is the difference between seeing light at the end of the tunnel and feeling doomed.

The mindset of the homeless and the way they manage their problems make all the difference in the world.  If there is a positive attitude, there is an uplifted spirit and a better outlook.  If there is openness, there is possibility.  If there is flexibility, there is adaptability.  And if there is persistence, there is a good chance of success.