Panhandlers vs. The Needy

Panhandlers vs. The Needy

I can't help it. I think panhandlers are probably just people who choose not to work. They are out there on the street asking you for money. At the same time, there are "the needy." You rarely see them and if you do, you don't really recognize them because they are not in your face, begging.

I see this one particular panhandler almost every day. He sits on a tree planter outside the convenience store every afternoon. His patter is short and sweet, "Any spare change sir?" short pause, "God bless you sir." The first few days I would say, "No." That changed to shaking my head. And now I just pretend he is not there.

The thing I dislike the most about him is the, "God bless you." The guy is a useless drain on society. What right has he to bless me? I wish I could figure out a way to shut him up or at least get him to move to a new place where I wouldn't see him. What I really resent is that I can't tell if he is needy or not. I don't know if he is tricking me or not. I wish I didn't have to work and someone would just pay my way through life. And then I regroup. Is he really needy or not? I can't know so I just ignore him.

A few days ago I passed a man in more than one layer of clearly well-worn dirty clothes. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw he was blind in one eye. Head down, walking very slowly on that cold and gloomy day, he was dragging his legs along. He didn't speak to anyone. He seemed sad and resigned. I just kept going. His sad face has stayed in my mind's eye. I wish I had helped him, some way.

The panhandlers have numbed me to the reality that some people are truly needy and deserve my generosity; even the smallest amount.

"...the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

I passed Jesus that day and did nothing. I have not seen him since. I'm sorry. I will do my best never to make that mistake again. I don't have much but what I have I will share with him.

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