Helping the Homeless?

I work in my churches homeless ministry. There but for the grace of god go I.

There are two sides to any street and any coin.

I genuinely want to help those that need help. And it is not right (in my opinion) to judge the degree of severity and authenticity of ones needs. Even though we have all done it including myself.

That said, I want to tell a funny short story.

I use to have to drive by a particular street corner on a regular basis where a panhandler worked. (Someone who asked for money) I have no idea how much money he made, but I rarely donated to the cause.
One day, as I approached the intersection I saw that he had made a new sign. It read, “why lie, want beer.”

I chuckled to myself, rolled down the window and handed him $5. What he used it for was his business, but I found the whole thing rather amusing.

A couple of months went by and I saw him a gain. Winter was approaching and the temperature was dropping. His sign now read, “Too cold for beer, want whiskey.” Again, I donated.

Why? Well, I always assumed that homeless people were just spending it on beer anyways and at the time I found the honesty refreshing. And it was funny. And sure, some of them do. But there are also those that need help. I realize now that far too often in my life I was too quick to judge and make assumptions. And where I can’t go back and change things, I can at least try to be better about it moving forward.