It seems I get asked for money everyday by someone in the area where I work. On October 9, I was asked by three people for money. It seems that the first time was downtown Lexington, but the second time was by a couple who had showed up in the parking lot of where I work. They told me that they were on their way out of town the following day and even had bus tickets, but they didn't have food for the night. I told them my standard answer, "I'm sorry, I never carry cash." Just after they asked this question, a woman was running down the street high on something, and she was kind of darting in and out of traffic. The man who had asked for money from me attempted to help get her out of the street since cars were zooming by, but I wouldn't allow him to go near her. I told him that she could snap if he touched her, and she could possibly hurt him since she was high.
At that time the police were called to try to get her help. She really could have gotten killed if she had jumped in front of a car. Just before the police showed up, the high woman darted around the corner. When the police showed up on the street I pointed in the direction where she ran. Later on that could helped the police find the woman, and soon after EMS showed up.
While all of that was going on I was standing on the corner below the place where I work watching the police cars that were parked in the alley behind where I work. They were left unattended, and I wasn't sure the doors were locked or not. For the last couple of days prior to Wednesday, I had been watching some of The Hangover movie where the group of guys stole a police car that had been left in the street unlocked. That is what was in my head while I watched the police cars. While standing on the corner, three younger men walked up and asked me what was going on with the police. I told them that the local prostitute had been running through the street and the police officers were there to check on her. One of them said "OH NO! ____ is going back to jail," while halfway laughing about it.
Before they moved on, one of them told me that they were from Winchester and they were trying to get back. They wanted to know if I could spare a few dollars. I told them my standard answer.
People ask for money. My position will to never give money. But at the same time my position will always be to give them respect through eye contact and a little bit of conversation. I believe that for the most part people who beg for money feel like they are invisible. Mostly people don't look at them.
Luke 18:35-43 English Standard Version (ESV)
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
I can't give someone their sight back, but at the same time I'm called as a Christian to be like the Christ that I follow. Before the blind beggar was healed, Jesus stopped. Then Jesus commanded him to be brought before him. Then Jesus asked, "what do you want me to do."
It's up to you if you want to give them your money. That is not my calling. My calling is something different, and that's what I'm going to do. My duty is not to judge them for their actions as if what they did would make them deserving or not.
My desire is to have a blog about the people around me who ask me for money. That's what my intention is with this blog.
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