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- Go to Give a Dollar to The Homeless Man on the Corner Because Yeshua Said to
whatsoever you do for the least of my brethren...
good for you. I think it's wise to make a determination about what charities you will support, but when it comes to someone on the street asking of me, I give. I thought a lot about this because I lived in San Francisco, the homeless capitol of the US. You're right. Jesus didn't put caveats on his mandate to give. And we give for ourselves as much as we are giving for the one in need. But,hey, if an allegedly hungry man turns down your cookies you're not obliged to give what he wants, eh?
posted by
AnCatubh
on June 14, 2005 at 3:48 AM
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It was in Seattle
and homeless were out in droves for the convention (HeadStart).
They're really out in D.C., but that's another story.
Some homeless were selling magazines. I bought one or two for a dollar each.
Others were just begging money.
one approached me and said, "I need a dollar for something to eat. I am really hungry."
I happened to have a bag of cookies. I offered him one. He walked away.
posted by
Xeno-x
on May 26, 2005 at 3:32 PM
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I have had the same discussion with friends... I'm lucky to have a daughter that said one day, as we sat at a stoplight where a man stood in the rain with a sign after I looked in my purse and said, "I only have a one and a twenty" - my daughter said, "Mom, what is he going to be able to do with 1 dollar?"
We can't judge what they need, what they want and what they will do with it... if they say they are hungry I buy them food... a month or so ago a man stood on a corner with a sign that said, "homeless troubador - looking for food" and I passed him and drove to a nearby mcdonalds, bought him a chicken strip (not nuggets) meal with a hi-c orange drink (I mean if he is not eating, give the man some vitamins) - drove it over to him and when I pulled up and gave him the bag of food and handed him the drink he said, "don't you want any?" and I said, "No, I bought this for you." and he said, "God bless you." and before I could drive away this man was eating... he was hungry...
Kabir has this great poem that reminds me of this:
The Holy One disguised as an old person in a cheap hotel
goes out to ask for carfare. But I never seem to catch sight of him.
If I did, what would I ask him for?
He has already experienced what is missing in my life.
Kabir says: I belong to this old person.
posted by
Metta
on May 26, 2005 at 8:12 AM
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My sentiments exactly!!
I can't tell you how many times people have laughed at me or chastized me for giving money to a street person. Yes, I know that many of them will just use it for liquor or drugs, but some of them won't. Some of them are actually hungary, homeless, and in need. My brother spotted a man on an island in an intersection who had a sign which said will work for food. My brother picked the man up and gave him a day's work (it happened to be a day when my brother needed help with something but he didn't need that kind of help every day). The man worked very hard and never complained even when it was obviously time for lunch. My brother took the man out to lunch and then they returned where the man finished a good day's work. My brother paid him and the grateful man was on his way. My brother told me he wished he thought to ask the man how to get ahold of him if he needed him again or heard of a job he might be qualified for, but by the time they were done with the work, my brother was very tired and just didn't think about it before the man was gone. You never know who you are helping so just give in good faith and know that God will give you grace when you do.
posted by
RAME
on May 25, 2005 at 2:02 PM
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donald -
You make a good point in your last sentance. Thinking a homeless person will use money for drugs or some other vice does presuppose that we know what is best for them. And maybe bottoming out is what is necessary for that person on that part of their journey.
posted by
sannhet
on May 25, 2005 at 10:03 AM
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Cantey -
Thanks.
posted by
sannhet
on May 25, 2005 at 10:02 AM
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Absolutely! I'm happy you feel that way. I just had...
this same discussion with a friend. I gave a homeless guy a dollar and my friend said more or less what your friend said. I told him the man asked me for something and I gave it to him and it doesn't go any farther than that.
I think the talk about "He'll only spend it on crack..." is patronizing and short-sighted. It presupposes that we know what's best for others. Maybe this person has to find out what's at the bottom of the bottle or go down into a hell of drug addiction so that the ego can be broken and he can be redeemed.
posted by
donaldoji
on May 25, 2005 at 8:53 AM
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good post
posted by
calmcantey75
on May 24, 2005 at 3:52 PM
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