tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post3441112311041257070..comments2023-10-31T06:20:45.622-05:00Comments on Raving Black Lunatic: I Had a VisitorBig Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02510881583909431416noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-92148018711199226122008-05-04T18:06:00.000-05:002008-05-04T18:06:00.000-05:00I just HAD to come back and tell you this story. T...I just HAD to come back and tell you this story. The other day I was on the train and this guy got on looking furious and slightly crazy. So I continue looking out the window bc I don't want him to have an outburst or anything. <BR/><BR/>So a few minutes go by and he starts asking people for money. Before I know it he plops down thisclose to me and starts talking. I have my iPod on so I'm totally startled and completely disgusted that he would invade my personal space. I don't play that. So I look at him like he's crazy and he finally gets up and proceeds to ask EVERY SINGLE PERSON on the train for fare money. <BR/><BR/>Then I thought about this entry and was like man, sure he's rude, but what would Jesus do? He only $3. So I dig out my last dollar I had on me and give it to the man. Maybe I missed it, but it appears he didn't say "Thank you." He was just like "Are you going to help me out with the rest of money?"<BR/><BR/>I was INCREDULOUS. Lol. As was everyone else on the train. He just walked away and I was subject to a chorus of "See. You shouldn't have given him anything." and "I bet he's on that crack. You see how insistent he was?" from all the other passengers.<BR/><BR/>All I could do was laugh, though. Anywho, it was only a dollar. What he did w/it was up to him.Focusedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818985758704500599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-28988986085251788962008-04-29T19:41:00.000-05:002008-04-29T19:41:00.000-05:00Deacon Blue raises a good point: "There's also th...Deacon Blue raises a good point: "<BR/>There's also the safety issue...if you have to literally pull out your wallet, you've just left yourself vulnerable to fast and hard mugging."<BR/><BR/>I used to keep a few ones in my coat pocket (i.e. separate from my wallet) for just such a purpose. (Plus, I used to wear jeans that were a little too tight: it was a struggle to get the wallet out with groovy smoothness.)<BR/><BR/><BR/>--GGGye Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972251323124084977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-32914746644987129662008-04-29T10:44:00.000-05:002008-04-29T10:44:00.000-05:00I've had a lot of problem in this area as well, Bi...I've had a lot of problem in this area as well, Big Man. Part of it is simply selfish; I don't have much walking around money these days (between a big loss of freelancing clients over the past year and having a little girl now AND a nearly grown young man) and it's hard to let go even though I know I should. Your post reminds me that I need to get the deathgrip off my ones and fives at least. (I used to give a bit more in Chicago when I had more money and saw people asking for it more often.)<BR/><BR/>Depending on where you live, opening up your wallet to everyone can be impractical, though. Let's take a stroll through San Francisco for one. You could bankrupt yourself handing out just a couple quarters to each homeless person on the street some days. Chicago, too, depending on where you are. Lots of big cities. And even where I'm at, which isn't a big metro area, you still see panhandling.<BR/><BR/>There's also the safety issue...if you have to literally pull out your wallet, you've just left yourself vulnerable to fast and hard mugging.<BR/><BR/>Let the spirit guide you...and start giving a little more here and there (I promise to do the same) and I think you (and I) will be led in the right directions in the future. And don't forget to give to some worthy official causes as well some times ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-70762634107521211102008-04-29T07:57:00.000-05:002008-04-29T07:57:00.000-05:00I agree: it sounds like a weird situation. And i...I agree: it sounds like a weird situation. And in the end, you **did** try to do "the right thing". Spooky that you couldn't find the guy.<BR/><BR/>You can't be perfect: I'd say to just try to raise your over-all average. Help as many people as you can -- and if you miss a few, well, so you're imperfect.<BR/><BR/>Weirdly, Arrested Development's "Mister Wendell" changed my point of view to a certain extent (although they romanticise homelessness a bit). I usually toss homeless folks a buck or two, 'cause, you know... what the heck.<BR/><BR/><BR/>--GGGye Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972251323124084977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-79888162497339299152008-04-29T01:38:00.000-05:002008-04-29T01:38:00.000-05:00A.F. - great stories. :)--GGA.F. - great stories. :)<BR/><BR/><BR/>--GGGye Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15972251323124084977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-75512547935885622882008-04-28T22:53:00.000-05:002008-04-28T22:53:00.000-05:00Ture story: I drove into the parking lot of the D...Ture story: I drove into the parking lot of the Discount Zone on St. Charles and Louisiana the last night of Mardi Gras 2006. I tend to check out what's going on around me before I get out of the car. Inside were some rowdy-seeming frat boys at the ATM, outside was a man asking for money. No problem. I got out of the car as the frat boys came out. They yelled things at the man out front, who had not even asked them for any money, such as "Get a job, N-!" They also immediately yelled something to me about my a--. I gave the man asking for money $5. Then, once inside the store, I realized, much to my frustration, that I then didn't have enough cash for the stuff I needed, so I went to the ATM. The frat boys had been so drunk apparently as to have left $20 lying right there in the machine. I had no problem taking it, buying my stuff, and giving the rest to the guy outside. It seemed like it was one of those instances in which what one gives comes back several fold.<BR/><BR/>Also when I evacuated to FL for the floods, there was at least a week that I had no access to my bank account because there was only one branch of my credit union, which was under water, and the paychecks ceased immediately, too. I had a credit card close to being maxed and that was it. A total stranger, when she heard through a friend of hers that I was in town as an evacuee gave me $500. I told her that was too kind and tried to return it, assuring her that the bank would get back up and running soon, etc. This lovely woman said, "No, I insist you take it, and I don't want to be repaid. If you find that you don't need it, please pass it on to someone who does." I was pretty humbled by that.A.F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09945226931776965275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-56304836524804273532008-04-28T16:30:00.000-05:002008-04-28T16:30:00.000-05:00I don't know why I'm so stingy. I've been that way...I don't know why I'm so stingy. I've been that way since I was a kid. <BR/><BR/>I'm the kid that kept track of how many pieces of pizza everybody had at the classroom pizza party to make sure I wasn't getting shafted. Or the guy who hates going to dinner with a group of strangers because when the bill comes there is always some shadiness.<BR/><BR/>I've chilled on it some, but I still have a problem. And I know I shouldn't worry about money so much, but I can't seem to shake it. I really need to spend some time thinking about this problem and stop ignoring it.Big Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510881583909431416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-82699652598976047042008-04-28T13:44:00.000-05:002008-04-28T13:44:00.000-05:00This could be a personal question, but why are you...This could be a personal question, but why are you so stingy? I only ask because I was sort of tight with my money too until one day when I was at church this minister told me that when you open your hand to give you're also leaving it open for God to bless you. I don't think He's willing to pry open a death grip,lol.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, I was holding onto my money as if I would never get anymore. And I had to be reminded that God would continue to provide as He always had. <BR/><BR/>This post actually makes me think of two songs. First is Kirk Franklin's "Lean on Me," I don't care for the song itself but there's a lyric "How can I say that I love Jesus when I've never seen his face/Yet I see you're dying and I turn and walk away?" The other has a similar concept and it says "You're my brother, your my sister and I love you with the love of my Lord..."<BR/><BR/>I guess my point here would be that it doesn't really hurt to give someone $1 or $5 if you have it and you see them doing without. I agree w/WNG, the person could very well use the money for other things, but that's on them because you gave it with the right heart.<BR/><BR/>Obviously this fellow had something to lose knocking on the door of a complete stranger in the middle of the night too. You could have shot first, asked questions later. What's really funny is that if he'd said his name, you still wouldn't have known who he was anyway. Lol. Just a thought...Focusedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818985758704500599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-73951359679123317232008-04-28T13:24:00.000-05:002008-04-28T13:24:00.000-05:00I'm so glad Wng introduced us. This is a great, t...I'm so glad Wng introduced us. This is a great, thoughtful and thought-provoking post.<BR/><BR/>I am not a Christian but I care deeply about doing the right and godly thing. Sometimes I give to panhandlers and sometimes I don't out of cynicism, but I always feel better when I do because my spare dollar might make a big difference to someone else.<BR/><BR/>The reality is that many of them will use my money to feed their addictions, but as others have pointed out, that is not for me to determine and giving with strings attached is not really giving at all, but a business transaction.<BR/><BR/>Still, I think that most people would react as you did to someone invading their home late at night. There are, sadly, too many crazies running around with guns to take chances on having your family hurt, and I really believe that Jesus would take that into account and come by earlier in the day.heartinsanfranciscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535397382991383931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-39469573411721652682008-04-28T12:09:00.000-05:002008-04-28T12:09:00.000-05:00WOW!!! Just went over to my friend Heart's blog an...WOW!!! Just went over to my friend Heart's blog and thought you really have to read this:<BR/>http://wwwguilty-with-an-explanation.blogspot.com/2008/04/with-little-help-from-my-friends.html<BR/><BR/>sorry I'm no good at linking...Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900726730265994177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-86910679226161454392008-04-28T12:06:00.000-05:002008-04-28T12:06:00.000-05:00You have to figure out what's right for you. I thi...You have to figure out what's right for you. I think it's great that you're asking yourself these questions...so many don't. <BR/>" I may not always know what the right thing to do is, My Lord, but I think the fact that I want to please you pleases you."Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900726730265994177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-15079829062333885322008-04-28T11:44:00.000-05:002008-04-28T11:44:00.000-05:00I appreciate all the responses.WNGI feel where you...I appreciate all the responses.<BR/><BR/><BR/>WNG<BR/><BR/>I feel where you are coming from. When I went outside to look for the man I was prepared to give him money, but couldn't find him. I don't look down on people who panhandle, I really think I'm just stingy, which in some ways makes me feel worse. <BR/><BR/>My dad always gives money to people who ask him, or he buys them food. He has encouraged me to do the same, using the same rationale that many of you used about letting God sort things out.<BR/><BR/>I'm going to really think on this because I feel like this is a core issue.Big Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02510881583909431416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-12116515361486021862008-04-28T10:43:00.000-05:002008-04-28T10:43:00.000-05:00yea folk, thats robbing and stalking type ishyea folk, thats robbing and stalking type ishAll-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843040863123899426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-74320681232608972422008-04-28T10:40:00.000-05:002008-04-28T10:40:00.000-05:00I was somewhat coldhearted to panhandlers even as ...I was somewhat coldhearted to panhandlers even as a teenager, many, many years ago. One day walking with my father a woman walked up to us and asked for money to buy formula for her baby. I acidly retorted that the formula was probably brand "Horse". My father gave the woman some money and later told me quietly (which was very rare for him, being a loud and irascible Puerto Rican): "My duty is to help, what she does afterwardsis up to her and God." I have not been able to always follow his advise, living in NYC and all, but I try. <BR/><BR/>An Atheist in NYCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-73950143739168943052008-04-28T07:21:00.000-05:002008-04-28T07:21:00.000-05:00How would it have hurt you to help out the guy, Bi...How would it have hurt you to help out the guy, Big Man? Even if he didn't have a friend waiting? Even if he just wanted the money (or whatever he was asking for) to get beer? How would it have hurt you? Yes, it might have been rude for him to come begging so late-but are there hours for hunger? How long that day had people been treating him as you did before he got to your parent's house? <BR/>A fellow blogger spent four years on the street. While his family searched for him he lived on the streets in Boston as a beggar. He did odd jobs when he could find them and begged when he couldn't.<BR/>If I can spare it and someone needs it I give it. I'd rather give food to someone panhandling than cash, but sometimes I'm running late and I have cash on me. If that makes me a soft touch or a sucker I'm fine with it. For every guy with a 60k income there are twenty more like my friend. <BR/>You know what CPL? I'm fine with the 'God Bless You' yelling - there are so many people who proclaim their Christianity in all caps from every rooftop and then drive right by those guys without a thought, I have no problem with them getting yelled at and no matter what tone you try to spin on it- it's still a blessing. <BR/>You could always try replying with one.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00900726730265994177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-9665235733525955432008-04-27T23:31:00.000-05:002008-04-27T23:31:00.000-05:00I think you acted sensibly, considering the circum...I think you acted sensibly, considering the circumstances. However, you should always be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to discern whether or not Jesus is sending someone to you for help.<BR/><BR/>You know what ticks me off? Pandhandlers in the street, and they holler "God Bless You" in snark fashion when you don't give them any money. Once, when I worked in San Francisco, I used to pass this panhandler at the BART station, everyday and put some change in his Mickey D cup.<BR/><BR/>Then, one night on the local news, I saw the same panhandler, dressed and standing in front of his house in Oakland, bragging about how he managed to pull $60K a year panhandling - he managed to buy that house he was filmed in front of.<BR/><BR/>I've closed up my wallet ever since. Some people scam. But the Bible also says that no child of God would go hungry; nor His seed begging bread. Which I take to mean that if they have faith, God will provide, without them begging in the streets. There's also a Proverb that states a man who won't work shouldn't eat, either.<BR/><BR/>Your heart is sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, so slow down so you can hear that leading and be obedient in following it.The Christian Progressive Liberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04445662404937684518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6803135128442396638.post-28999045436667115502008-04-27T21:32:00.000-05:002008-04-27T21:32:00.000-05:00I don't know what I would have done in your situat...I don't know what I would have done in your situation at all. It sounds like it could have been a little dangerous. And I may have been thinking possible home invasion. "It's me" at 10 p.m.?<BR/><BR/>In day to day situations, I know that I've given a lot of money to people who have probably turned around and used it to do all manner of things that are the reason that we're told not to give money. But I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather give to people who ask if even only one really needs it. It seems as though if people ask for what they don't need and I give it, the bad karma is on them, but if they ask for what they need and I don't give it, even though I can, the bad karma is on me.A.F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09945226931776965275noreply@blogger.com