Several months ago, I set off to write this post. I asked friends on facebook to help me by asking them questions of their experiences with poor people internationally. Busyness happened, and I read something that made me question how I was actually going to write this, so I put it off. But last night I was reminded again of what my original intentions in writing this were, and I re-gained inspiration!
I want you to think.. Think of when you drive up to a light and their is a beggar with a sign on the corner. Think of how you feel, or what kind of thoughts go through your mind. Think of a situation when you're walking downtown, and an obviously homeless woman in dirty rags is sitting outside the post office with a sign that says "anything helps." Again, I want you to try and think of what you're natural reaction is.
I think as Americans (although I'm not limiting these feelings to just us), our natural reaction includes something along the lines of negativity. We may think things such as, "that person needs to get a job like the rest of the world", or "they're just gonna use the money for drugs."
How about this situation? Do you ever find yourself sitting somewhere with your purse out, and when someone questionable comes along, you bring your stuff closer to them, as if you know they are going to try and steal your stuff?
Last night I was with salsa dancing with some friends at Mexican restaurant called Kalypso. It was around midnight or later, and as we were dancing, we noticed out the front window a homeless man with a backpack dancing to the music that was playing. He was rocking out, having a good time. After a few minutes, he came inside, and continued to have a blast. The dance floor cleared. There were few looks of disgust, and I won't ignore the fact that he didn't smell too pretty. He danced for a few minutes, and we clapped for him to keep it up, but eventually one of the owners escorted him out of the building. They handled it very well in my opinion, by telling him that he did have to go, because it was a private party. But, I was imagining how he might have felt at that point. Embarrassed, ashamed, not wanted?
I don't care if he was drunk. I don't care if he 'wasn't all there,' he still could have experienced those feelings. I'm not saying it was wrong to ask him to leave, because yeah, it did makes us feel a little uncomfortable, because we weren't sure what he was capable of. But what I think a lot of people who might ever be in a situation like this fail to recognize, is that no matter their physical or emotional state, they still are human beings and they still have feelings.
Sometimes I feel like we treat the homeless like the plague.
When we see that woman sitting outside of the courthouse, or that man on the corner with the sign, we instinctively judge them.
When I asked for help from my friends several months ago, I asked them what their first response or natural reaction would be when they have been in a third world country, and seen a beggar on the street, or a homeless kid. Think of what your first response would be. Is it grief? Is it wanting to help? Often times, after someone visits a location like this for the first time, they want to "move down there and start an orphanage!" They want to "tell the whole world of the injustice!" I don't think those natural reactions are wrong, because that's how I feel sometimes too. But what I think the point that we are missing is that we have our own people just like that. We don't even have to go to another country to experience it. But often times, we barely even consider "those people" as, well, people. Our first instinct is that they're gonna steal from us, or use the money to buy drugs. Which you know what, might be true! But does that mean that we can't care for them? I just want to break your stereotype. I want you to change what your 'first response' or 'first thoughts' are about the homeless people we see EVERY SINGLE DAY. I want you to see them as a person, a person who deserves everything we deserve.
Some of you think, well they had their chance! We live in America, everyone can make something of themselves!
Don't think that please. Ever.
We never know what has gone on in a person's life that has gotten them in such a low place. We don't know what happened to them as a child, we don't know what their parents taught them, or probably didn't teach them, we don't know what kind of substances have altered their minds. (I want to state, that yes it could have been their choice in the first place to take a drug, but that's the problem with drugs, their addictive, and it can become an addiction they can't control.)
I just want you to really examine and possibly change the way you see someone on the streets. Don't treat them like the plague. DON'T ignore that they're there.
"I think it's fair to say that American attitudes toward the poor-- and perhaps not just in America-- are mostly disdain and fear. They're dangerous and different. Sometimes there's a suspicion that their condition is their own fault, that they're simply lazy or inferior. Other Americans are more kind-hearted, but prefer not to look at the poor too closely; it's depressing, and they're surely not fun people to be with.
These attitudes are a world away from God's attitudes, as described in these verses. Neediness arouses compassion in God-- and action.
We may think: "Of course God loves the poor; he loves everybody." But it's not so simple as that; God's character is presented as a model for our own. If God values the poor, we have to think about what that means for us." (found at http://www.zompist.com/meetthepoor.html)
Of course the Bible has something to say about all of this, so I want to share just a few verses to emphasize my point.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.
Prov. 14:31 Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help the poor is to honor God.
I think you get the point...
In finishing, I want to quote part of an article from the February 2011 issue of the Gospel Rescue Mission Newsletter. The title of the article is "Handling Panhandlers" and it was written by Ken & Valorie Emilio.
"And here's a shocker: Panhandlers often take in $50-$60 per day or more! What do they do with your money? Most spend it on booze. They do not need to spend your money on food because good nutrition is not their primary concern.
Our community is very gracious. There are at least two "free kitchens" in Grants Pass including the Gospel Rescue Mission and Saint Vincent De Paul. Anyone can walk in and get free meals every day-no questions asked. Also, a number of churches offer food every week. The ROC, FISH and the Food Bank also supply food to the hungry and homeless. So when a panhandler's sign says he or she is hungry, it is not food they crave. Beware!
Our advice is: Do not give money to panhandlers. Instead, support organizations like the Mission and other community food outlets. That way you know your money will be used responsibly to help feed the truly needy. Now that is good stewardship!
"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon" (Isaiah 58:10)
Be wise in how you help the poor, but in all means, help them!
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