“Think
global, act local.” Write a post connecting a global issue to a personal one.
Since moving
back to the United States, I am surprised at how many “homeless” are standing
around on the street corners asking for anything. (“anything helps,” that’s
what most of their signs read). I saw of
glimpse of the rise of these types of beggars when I was back visiting with my
children several years ago. I had one baby and one toddler, and my dad was
driving us from AL to North Carolina to visit family and friends, and we
stopped at a popular rest stop in Georgia (The Peach State!) that we had
stopped at before when I was a girl. I was excited to stop there for some ice
cream and a break, but I was disappointed when a gentleman approached my dad
saying that he needed gas money (he was even carrying a gas can) because his
wife and baby were with him, and they had no gas to get to where they were
going. My dad refused to give him anything, then we watched him go back to his
nice looking car where there was another guy, but no sign of a woman or baby,
then he took off to ask the next unsuspecting victim.
Now a days
it’s tough because you can’t always tell who is “begging for a living” and who
is truly in need of help. Well, you can sort of tell, like the lady I saw when
I was driving to work at 5 am the other morning who was walking and talking to
herself in the rain crossing the bridge with wet, holey socks on and no shoes
on. My heart went out to her, but she wasn’t asking for anything. The others who wait on the intersection
corners as I exit I-5 on the road by my house and as I stop to get gas at Fred
Meyer are always holding up signs while they smoke cigarettes, watch after
their dogs, and stay warm in their fairly clean, thick coats and good shoes.
Unfortunately, for them, I have no desire to help them out except maybe to take
their dog off their hands or help them quit smoking, the two things that are
costing them money they should be using to get back on their feet.
My husband
has a story to tell as well. He stopped to help a guy who was asking for gas
money one time. He told him to “get in,” his car. The guy replied, “what?” My
husband continued saying, “get in, and I’ll take you to get some gas.” The man
replied with a laugh as he went to the next car to ask for money. He didn’t
want or need the gas. He just wanted the money.
Homelessness
is a global and local problem, but what can we do to solve it? Well, the countries that struggle the least
with this are those who take care of their elderly, mentally ill, and
unemployable. In the Marshall Islands, I
met a couple of “homeless” gentleman, but they were never hungry, always had
clothes on, a place sleep, and were relatively happy and not a hindrance to
anyone in their society. That’s because “the community” of people took care of
them, giving them their leftover food or clothes and shoes they did not need,
and making sure they always had a place to sleep when they needed it. They
never asked me for money. In Japan, there are homeless, but they don’t beg for
money. They are quiet and polite, take care of stray animals in urban parks,
and collect money by recycling others’ garbage.
In America, we can be cynical about our homeless because there are so
many who have deceived us by pretending to be homeless or poor when they are
really just “conning” others out of their money, so they don’t have to try and
find a job or work for their earnings.
So, what do
we do about it? I don’t know. Try to
determine who is homeless for real and who is not and fine those who are
begging without need? I’m sure that must
violate some American freedom. Plus,
who’s going to do that job anyway. I
think the best thing is to help those we know who need us through our churches,
our work places, our children’s friends, and those we come into contact with
each day. We all struggle in one way or another, so just keeping your eyes and
ears open to those legitimate “right next to us” opportunities to assist in
whatever large or small way we can is the best way to really bless someone who truly
needs the blessing.
“So
then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially
to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:10
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