While my wife Mari shops at Trader Joe’s on Sundays I sit outside of a local bagel place and watch the people. I even talk to some passers-by. Every now and then I fellow walks bye looking for a handout. I generally carry a few bucks in plastic baggies just for this purpose. Last week a youngish looking young man came bye, acting a bit embarrassed, looking around at various folks. He asked one person for a him one of my plastic baggies. He took it, looked it over without opening it, put it in his pocket, smiled and asked “Do you have any more?”
I was quite surprised by his question but answered by smiling back and handing him another baggie. He laughed and grinned widely, said “Thanks”, and walked on. I admit I was a bit stunned by his unusual response, but it did set me to thinking. I’ve been handing out these baggies for several years and never have I had someone respond in this way. I couldn’t tell if he was surprised or a bit disappointed. I’ve been thinking about this incident for several days trying to scope the guy out.
Most guys, and its almost always a guy, simply mutter “thanks” and keep looing down. Some look me right in the eye and with a smile say “Thanks a lot, buddy”. It almost seemed as if this guy was laughing at me. Perhaps he was just messin’ with me to see what I would do or say. Perhaps he was puzzled by the plastic baggie or even was a bit afraid of it. He never even opened it up while he was looking it over. Just moved on down the sidewalk.
I of course do not expect a special response from the recipients of these baggies. I sued to work in a homeless shelter and know how hard it can be for such folks, especially in the winter. I know that two or three bucks isn’t going to make much difference to them in their situation, but I like to think that perhaps the contact with another person might mean a lot. Actually, I have met the same person again later on and this is always a special experience.
I do not know what I am trying to say here. It was just a very peculiar experience and has had me thinking ever since. How does it feel to beg for money? Some guys are in wheelchairs and appear to be used to asking for money. I am a bit surprised that some do not start making meeting me a regular thing. We give money to other needy cause, but this contact with a real person is something I really look forward to. I’ll let you know if this guy ever shows up again. I hope he does. If you have any thoughts about this sort of thing, please let me know. Thanks for reading.
One response to “A PECULIAR EXPERIENCE”
I’m with you here. I don’t carry plastic bags with a few dollars but a couple of bags that have some toiletries, some snacks, a McDonald’s gift card, and a pair of socks (fresh socks always seem to be a welcome gift). We call them Samaritan bags. Like you, I always hope this small gesture helps in some way. Responses vary. I’ve long stopped worrying about what many people might deem as appropriate responses. I’m pretty sure I learned from people like you that we do such things not for reward but because it is the right thing to do.
The parsonage I lived in during my first stint out of seminary was between the town’s liquor store and an old train station where some “troubled souls” would use as a wind-break on cold nights and drink whatever spirits they could afford. They would frequently stop at my door on Friday or Saturday nights looking for a few dollars. They always had great – and sometimes elaborate – stories about why they needed the money (I quickly stopped giving money, and started making sandwiches to give out on Friday and Saturday nights). However, the last time I gave one of them a few dollars instead of a sandwich was because when I asked him what he needed the money for, he said, “I ain’t going to lie to you, Rev. It’s for something to drink that you won’t approve of.” I told him I admired his honesty. Next weekend he got a sandwich.
Be well, Doc.