So, the other nite I was walking back from my fav coffee and cupcake spot (@cuppiesandjoe), and found myself in the direct path of a homeless man…. like a tractor beam he was locked into my specific coordinates and the next thing I know he is introducing himself and starting in on a long story of why he was without a home wandering the streets of Oklahoma City.
First thing I noticed was the smell… daggum! For this reason alone I don’t think I could be homeless, as I really enjoy NOT smelling like BO, but to each there own. Anyway back to the story, I patiently listened for a good 10 minutes as he laid out the reasons why I should give him the $6 in my front left pocket (which is odd… because I never carry cash and the moment he approached me my hand was in my pocket touching said Lincoln and Washington). His reasoning of why I should give him money was somewhat suspect as he mentioned he had a cancerous tumor on his pituitary gland but had no signs of gigantism or for that matter any other symptoms of this terrible affliction, besides some jitters akin to something drug addicts have during withdrawals. Nevertheless, I gave him the benefit of the doubt as he told me story upon story, of how he needs $17 to buy this prescription drug from Walgreen’s… Now, at this point I am praying, “God, what do you want me to do here… I know if I give him any cash he is more than likely going to spend it on booze or drugs, but I also want to show some semblance of love to him, and if he is telling the truth… Well, I want to help him. God… What do I do?“
After shooting up this prayer, I felt a peace about giving him the $6… I know everyone who has worked with Homeless people are now frustrated because you should never give money to a homeless man with the jitters… but I had a peace about it, so there.
So, I gave him the cash, with a preface that he should not spend the money on anything but the prescription drug for his cancer and/or food. Then I prayed with him, asking God to reveal himself to David, as well as for healing of his cancer, and comfort in his pain. He said thank you and then turned and walked directly toward another person walking along the sidewalk nearby.
As I walked home I had another conversation with God… I asked him that if David used the money for drugs or alcohol, that they wouldn’t work. That the crack cocaine he injected or the liquor he ingested would turn into saline solution, and that God would show up in a mighty way that evening to a homeless man who needs some “Revolutionary Love” in his life!
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I have a strong passion for the homeless and for some reason I feel like they are drawn to me. so much so that I feel like it say's "I have cash" on my forehead. Anyway, three years ago I came to this same cross roads and here was my conclusion ::
When meeting a homeless person and asked for money I feel it is my duty to give, no matter what, along with explaining from whom it is coming from (i.e. this money was never mine to begin with). If we are called to provide to the least of these then it is my job to give what I can. After the following revelation I don't worry about where they are spending because its only my obligation to give, its not my responsibility to manage where the money is spent. Yes, I do ask where its being spent and try to motivate them to spend wisely but how they spend their gift is between them and the Lord.
I like that Teek… that it is our "obligation to give and not our responsibility to manage," as it definitely takes the control out of our hands and puts it into God's. Thanks for the comment.
I don't want to be the guy who tries to trump everything with "You know, in NYC…" so don't take it that way.
Man it's hard here. You see so many people begging, everywhere you go. It's just so easy to get jaded, because you read stories of people that make a not-too-shabby living by taking other peoples' money. And then there's the one time that I pulled a dollar out of my wallet for someone and they said "that's all?"
But that shouldn't be an excuse to ignore the tragedy in so many lives around me. Thanks for the encouraging note