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October 11, 2019 - First thing in the morning

my favorite picture of a beggar

This morning I stopped for gas on the way to work.  It was at my favorite gas station on the corner of Loudon and North Broad.  As I was pumping my gas, I saw out of the corner of my eye a man in a camouflage jacket approach the man pumping his gas at the pump next to mine.  I heard him say that he was a veteran.  I knew the guy would say no, and I also knew I was next.

When the guy approached my car, he said something about his truck being parked near downtown, and he said "they sent me to a church, but the church is locked."  He said something about where he lived being near Natural Bridge, and he wanted to know if I could give him $7.

I told him my standard answer, "I never carry cash."  I then asked him who "THEY" were.  He said the VA.  I told him he should go back to the VA, but he told me they wouldn't help him with the truck since the truck is in his dad's name.  Then he asked again.  "Would you be able to help?  I'll pay you back on Friday."  I should have done it, but I laughed a little and told him that he wasn't going to pay me back; he doesn't know who I am.  He told me that he would write down my number.  RIGHT!

He told me that someone earlier had spit in his face when he asked for money.  He said that the person told him to get a job after he showed them his VA card.  I didn't believe that was true, but you never know.   I would consider that assault on a homeless person.  

Just because someone asks you for money and they're wearing a camouflage jacket doesn't necessarily mean they're a veteran.  Also if someone asks you for a specific amount of money, like $7 was asked of me, it should be a flag that they need $7 for a specific item.  $7 would not help this guy get to Natural Bridge.

He moved on, but he moved out of the gas pumping area.  I pump gas there all the time, and beggars usually hang out in the parking lot asking for money at that gas station.  The Hope Center (homeless shelter) is very close to there, and it seems to be an easy place to ask for money.

As I was typing the first entry of this new blog, a woman knocked on the door of where I work.  I went to the door.  She was a little over 5 feet tall and very skinny.  I didn't know if I was going to be asked if a resident she knew was at the house, or if she needed something.  At first she didn't ask for either.  She said that she was walking by the house and saw the van that said LEXINGTON RESCUE MISSION.  She wanted to know where we serve meals.   I told her it was at the Outreach Center on Glen Arvin Avenue.  I told her lunch starts at noon, and it's always good.

I told her directions from the Potters House to the Outreach Center.  I told her that once she got to Georgetown St, she would look for the grocery store.  I told her that was Glen Arvin Ave, and the Outreach Center is a few houses down on the left.


After she got this information from me, she said, "I haven't had breakfast this morning, and I have diabetes.  Would you happen to have some food that I can eat before lunch."  I told her I didn't have much, but I can give her a few candy bars if that would help.  She said yes, please.

I went inside the house and returned with a glass of water and two chocolate chip granola bars.

That is all she wanted.  I didn't pay for either I gave away, nor did I take something away from the men who are in the Potters House to give to her.   I also didn't give her money.

It doesn't take much to love people the way Jesus loved people.  Follow this link to see what the Bible says about feeding the hungry.






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