I watched him as he worked his way down the median, not really looking at the faces he passed, as each car pulled up to the light. I imagine that most drivers turned their eyes away from him, uncomfortable in the situation they found themselves in. My eyes caught his as he raised his sign a little higher. But he immediately moved on, not wanting to acknowledge the fact that I did not gesture to him to come my way. It wasn’t that I was unsympathetic, quite the contrary, I was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do.
There had been a time when I carried a gallon-sized bag in my car with a bottled water, pair of socks, toothbrush and paste, granola bar and a $5 bill. I’d often pull up to a light and hand it out the window and move on. But then one day as I was talking to my grown son, he said that many people standing on the street corners have now made a living on just asking for money. He then proceeded to show me what he meant.
As we drove down a congested Washington, D.C street we spotted four “homeless” folks standing on street corners. “These particular homeless people are out here three times a day; morning rush hour, lunch time and evening rush hour.” I watched as car after car handed out money to these individuals. My son said that the newspaper had done an interview with a few of these homeless folks and they said they made close to $70,000 a year on average. I was shocked! What? How could this be?
“Look at their shoes, “ my son offered up. “If they are wearing the latest or new shoes, good chance they are out here making a living. If they look like they don’t have a shoe on, they are truly homeless.” I was flabbergasted. Who in their right mind would stand on a street corner and beg others for money? Have they no pride, have they no… something? I don’t know what, but it just seemed horrible to me. So I stopped carrying the gallon bag in my car because by the time I looked at a homeless person’s shoes, the light would change and I’d be on my way.
But still my heart aches when I see someone on the side of the street begging for money, food or a job. I wonder what their story is and what brought them to the streets. Perhaps I am too tender hearted, but my real thought is…if they have the strength to stand all day on a street corner and beg for money, then we as a society should give them what they need.
I know that I am blessed and have so much more than most. Who am I to turn my eyes from these people and make them less than they are? They have a heart, they have feelings, they have needs . I don’t want to take a chance and turn away that person looking at me for help if they are truly homeless. So I’ll gather my baggies and stuff them with necessities, and not hesitate next time when a sign is lifted up in my direction, in hopes that I will be the one that comes to their aide. A little generosity can go a long way, and I know that in the end, it’s how you treat others that most counts in life.
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PS: I just want to say that my son is a very kind and caring person who gives to the homeless all the time. He just wanted to educate me on what’s happening around the country regarding the homeless.
