Helping the Homeless: What I did this morning
So, nearly every day I drive downtown to Hallmark, I pass this one intersection. Namely, the light as you turn from West Pennway onto Southwest. There is always a homeless man at that light, asking for alms (my word, not his). Not the same one, but just some guy always there.
Anyway, most of you already know my heart towards the homeless. I have a deep compassion for them regardless of just how they got to be that way, and I’m always compelled to give something that I have on me unless it’s something too small, like $1, or a half-eaten muffin.
The thing that usually gets in my way at this particular intersection is that the traffic moves quick and I’m always in the opposite lane from the homeless guys so I rarely can get to them.
Anyway, this morning, there was zero traffic (odd, i know), so as I pulled up to the light, I rolled down the window and pulled out the only thing I had on my that wasn’t a personal belonging — cash.
I gave the guys some money and told him, “God bless you.” Then the light turned green and I got honked at, so I was off.
Anyway, I wish I had something like my lunch to give to the guy. Something practical, but all I had was the money. I trust he’ll use it wisely, as who knows how many corporate folk are giving at that intersection. I would assume it’s at least mildly lucrative. Homeless people keep coming back.
So, those of you out there reading this…what do you think about helping out the homeless in your own town? If you feel similarly to me, what do you do for them? Do you help out at soup kitchens? Do you try and help them as you come across them? I’d love to hear what you guys do!
I donate money to charities. I never give to people who stand on the corner with signs. This is how they make their living. Someone who is poor or homeless would not be wearing great shoes or coat like that. Panhandling is a crime because they choose not to get a regular job. This is their job. Next time check out the condition of the clothes.
So I started to write a big long comment… then decided to post my comment on my blog instead…
http://www.thomasrye.com/2010/02/helping-the-homeless/
What about packing an extra lunch – knowing that there will be someone at the corner to accept it?
I did notice his attire, which was part of what helped me decide to help out. He was in rough shape. Worn clothes and all.
Amy, that’s actually a great thought. I’ve thought about it before, but every time i start to fix one I think, “what if he’s not there today?” and i usually end up taking nothing. I should just go out on a limb and fix him a lunch. Maybe something not so easily perishable.
Here’s that quote I was talking about. Kind of long I know, but it has a lot of great stuff in it, if you can get through it.
And again: Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you:
And now, if you believe all these things, see that ye do them.
And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God,
Or if ye have known of his goodness, and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceeding great joy in your souls,
Even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long suffering towards you unworthy creatures,
And humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel;
And behold, I say unto you, that if ye do this, ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins;
And ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.
And ye will not suffer your children, that they go hungry, or naked;
Neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers; he being an enemy to all righteousness;
But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another;
And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need;
And ye will not suffer that the begger putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. Perhaps thou shalt say, The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance, that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just.
But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this, the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done, he perisheth for ever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
For behold, are we not all beggers? Do we not all depend upon the same being, even God, for all the substance which we have; for both food, and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins.
And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?
Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped, that ye could not find utterance, so exceeding great was your joy.
And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives, and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how had ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have, one to another?
And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance, that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation, for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you, but to God, to whom also, your life belongeth;
And yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich, as pertaining to the things of this world.
And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the begger, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts, that I give not because I have not; but if I had, I would give.
And now, if ye say this in your hearts, ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned, and your condemnation is just; for ye covet that which ye have not received.
And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you; that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God,
I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants,