we had to leave our house for 2 hours today for it to be shown, and we went to a local bagel place to eat. (uggg...shouldn't have) but anyway, as were getting into the car, i noticed a man going through the trash can outside of the bagel place. we was extremely thin with nice pants that were hanging off of him terribly, a nice button down shirt, and an umbrella to shade him from the heat. i thought, "oh no...hope he finds what he's looking for"...well, he did...a drink. he pulled out a cup that someone had thrown away, took the top off, and drank it. he pulled out a couple of things to eat.
i can NOT stop thinking about that man and hoping he finds what he needs to survive today...and gets in a better place in the long run. i wonder if he was dressed nicely because he is looking for work. i wonder if he has enough money for his family to eat only and is going through the garbage for himself. maybe he's happy and at peace. maybe he's terribly sad. maybe he doesn't have any family.
anyway, maybe he was put there just to teach me something today. to remind me to be generous with what i have, even though we have so much less right now. to encourage me to be grateful for what i do have and not to be down about our lack of income at the moment. to encourage me that there are so many ways to make things happen...i mean the man *did* find something to drink and eat in there. i love when i am reminded of what a great life i have. even if that man is happy, i'm sure he never dreamed he'd be looking for things to survive on in the garbage can.
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Stephanie, wife to Tim (almost 9 years) and mama to Isaac (3) and Kendall (13 months)
I have seen this too and everytime I feel guilty. I know I am not responsible personally for whatever reasoning that may be that has forced this person to eat out of trash cans, but it still hits a nerve.
It bothers me that on so many levels:
the person is so hungry that they will eat ANYTHING and risk getting sick,
the person is possibly a susbstance abuser and just does not care that they are eating trash
we as a society throw away enough food that people can actually get a full meal out of a trash can!
I have gotten to the point of dumpster diving, not for food but for clothing. It takes just a little bit of the right attitude to not care what others think as they walk or drive by and shoot you dirty looks.
In times of desperation, anything looks workable. And I believe that seeing that man for you was definately a sign to take a step outside of your own problems and re-evaluate what you DO have!
How fortunate for you that you were able to catch this message from the universe.
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Becky,
SUPER DUPER single mama to my 2 lovely ladies!
patchouli wearin, dirt lovin, tree huggin, tiedye makin, tofu eatin, belly dancin, festival goin, vegetable growin, tea drinkin, hippy stinkin!
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Posts: 40,859
We don't have a large homeless population here, but near where we used to live there was. Whenever we came across someone seemingly in need, we'd empty our pockets - even if it was just change. It breaks my heart - entirely.
In times of desperation, anything looks workable. And I believe that seeing that man for you was definately a sign to take a step outside of your own problems and re-evaluate what you DO have!
How fortunate for you that you were able to catch this message from the universe.
you're right. i am so grateful i caught the message too. i felt super stressed about money tonight, and i recommitted to being positive and faithful and surrendered to whatever happens and to take it a day at a time. and that man has stayed in my mind and continued to inspire me to dig deeper within myself for contentment.
I gave 5.00 to a man who was on the side of the road with a sign. We were on our way to the vet's office. I never thought about Cara next to me- I think the guy was afraid of her. AQnyway, I hoped he bought something to eat with it. Then, two days ago I saw him and his friends laying next to a building and drinking out of wine bottles, each taking a turn to go beg for money on the side of the road. (We were at a red light.)
My sister told me to just give money to a shelter or a fund instead of handing it out.
My friend will only hand out food- like a loaf of bread and some peanut butter.
I guess I wish I hadn't contributed to his wine fund
Location: Wrapped in the Loving Embrace of My Family
Posts: 5,794
Hmmm
I think that the intent in giving the money to the man was good so you need to think about that rather than his drinking issue. You were being a good steward and regardless how he chose to spend that money it does not change the deed that you did.
Where we live there is very very little homelessness but that will change because we have had two major factories pick up and move to China thus leaving a couple thousand people without jobs. We are one of the poorest counties in Michigan and it shows. In one year we went from very few people walking along the road during the day (other than joggers and people having fun) to quite a few people roaming aimlessly because there is nothing to do without work. It has been really hard on me since I have never witnessed this before.
Monday when dh and I were in Ann Arbor visiting friends we drove by a homeless elderly women who was wearing tons of layers of clothing and her shoes were so broken down that she couldn't stand on them (her heels kept sliding off the sides). The image of her is burned into my mind and has effected how I have perceived even the smallest things this week.
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Bobbi Jo
16 pounds till SMEXY!!!!!!!!!!!
Joy to the World...
the Lord has come!
Today I will cherish myself, love myself, nurture myself, and take one more step towards achieving my goals!
Location: When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Posts: 9,502
Completely an aside from the OT... Unfortunetly, most people who are on the side of the road around here are like Maura's case. Just taking turns panhandling for their own personal fund of booze/Meth. It is so sad. We have people around here that panhandle for no reason too... I once saw a guy while we were walking to the blockbuster, walk from his spot on the side of the road, to his CAR and get in and drive away. Completely not homeless... just a way of life. He was probably mental, but that is an aside, because they can work at Goodwill, and the food kitchen. Anyway... I try not to get jaded, but it hurts way more to see men eating out of dumpsters (because obviously he was hungry, and being homeless wasn't a choice he was making for that day) than it is to see people with signs. I was homeless for months... I never panhandled. I also never did drugs. I don't know if those two go hand in hand, but they may... I just don't know. I have given food too. I never give money anymore. It hurts not even to trust the poor. I want to, but I have delivered too many Charity Christmas boxes to houses nicer than mine, with people with nicer cars. Being poor isn't a reality for them... it is a state of mind. They just don't have the room on their 6th credit card to afford to put the $500 in toys they want to give their children on it. I give what I can, and I hope that others do the same, but I am ****ed choosey about who I give it to now. Sad, but reality; some people take just to take.
The other day I saw a guy with a sign that said "Dreaming of a Cheeseburger". It made me smile...... and then it made me angry.
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Val; Living the dream we have been working towards for over 5 years.
Mama to Alex, Cyan, and Logan. Wife to my very best friend.
Val, I feel the same way. It's so hard and icky feeling to not be trusting and to not want to give. But I've seen too many people screw the system more than it's helped them.
I know of 3 families who shop at the food shelf. They all drive nicer vehicles than us, live in nicer homes and eat out more than we do. They will then use the food shelf if they blow all their money that week and have none left to feed themselves. I no longer donate to the food shelf. (and yes, I know there are legitimate families who need it...that's the icky part)
One year I donated toys to the "needy" for Christmas at our elementary school. I happened to see my neighbor (at the time...we no longer live there) picking out the toys that I donated and handed them to her youngest child. A week earlier, she was telling me that they spend $500 per child for Christmas each year (and they really do...you should have seen all the stuff they got!). Oh, and their home was much larger than ours. I never donated to that cause again either.
Val, I feel the same way. It's so hard and icky feeling to not be trusting and to not want to give. But I've seen too many people screw the system more than it's helped them.
I know of 3 families who shop at the food shelf. They all drive nicer vehicles than us, live in nicer homes and eat out more than we do. They will then use the food shelf if they blow all their money that week and have none left to feed themselves. I no longer donate to the food shelf. (and yes, I know there are legitimate families who need it...that's the icky part)
One year I donated toys to the "needy" for Christmas at our elementary school. I happened to see my neighbor (at the time...we no longer live there) picking out the toys that I donated and handed them to her youngest child. A week earlier, she was telling me that they spend $500 per child for Christmas each year (and they really do...you should have seen all the stuff they got!). Oh, and their home was much larger than ours. I never donated to that cause again either.
that is sickening. Honestly. I have used the food shelf and the Toys For Tots drive. And you know what, I was mortified that I couldn't provide 'properly' for my children myself. I couldn't imagine misusing those services because I 'blew' the household money.
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Helen
Single student mama to 3 wonderful people
I saw the same guy again today..I pretty much have seen him all wekk. I also notice that all of the people asking for money around here have the same sign- cardboard with black marker saying "Homeless- God Bless". I hate to admit it, but honestly, I feel like they are using the God part to elicit sympathy.
I'm just going to do what my sister suggested and give to a shelter.
he pulled out a cup that someone had thrown away, took the top off, and drank it. he pulled out a couple of things to eat.
can we just make sure that we are never ever over 30min away from each other. that scares me!
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