Homeless People

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' post='1562592' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:30 PM']so i guess she sends in all of her replies by snail mail? which is delivered by the starving orphans she cares for because stamps are too expensive?[/quote]

lol, no, she begs and borrows her use children's computers...but so we should thank them. I love my mom but sharing a PC with her would just annoy me....unless I wasn't home...then I wouldn't care.

[jeffpugh]

[quote name='Madtown Sem.' post='1559778' date='Jun 5 2008, 02:18 PM']in an effort to make this topic a little less serious... one of the best cardboard signs I've ever seen went as follows:

"My wife ran away with my best friend....

need money for a thank you card."

and another just for fun.[/quote]
the pic was funny... I have the same yellow bowl.

[Deb]

I am sorry but, I think it is very judgemental to assume that every person who is homeless or asks for money has a drug or alcohol addiction. So many of those on the street are mentally ill.
Maybe, next time someone asks you for money for food, stop what you are doing and offer to take them into the nearest restaurant and buy them lunch. Then join them so they don't get kicked out.
If they do have a problem, God is the only one who will deliver them from it and I would rather look at helping them with a few bucks and assume God will be guiding them after I walk away.
Maybe because I live in Minnesota and we don't have a severe panhandling problem, I find it easier to just part with my money. It is only money after all. I have been rich and I have been poor and I was very glad that people weren't assessing me when I was poor.

[CatherineM]

In Edmonton 60% of the homeless population has a mental illness. Many of them are also drug users because they are self-medicating. That doesn't change the fact that there are places they can go for dignified help. No human should be living on the street especially in this very northern climate. Giving them money doesn't get them off the street. It doesn't get them medicated properly, all it does is allow them to avoid seeking proper help for another day.

[rckllnknny]

i know when there was a time i couldnt go to the shelter. it was during a record-breaking cold-spell i had to try and warm up in the hallways of apartment bulidings. i was interviewed and on the news for it.

[rckllnknny]

i guess i could of went to a hospital and said i was mentally ill.

[kafka]

wow Rick.

All I have to say is no-one is a throwaway. There are many different ways to help them according to situation. I can usually tell who the drunks and druggies are. What kills me though is that some people I've been around in the past were bitter towards the homeless. They would make remarks like, "Get a job, this is America" and stuff like that. To me that is the myopic. Its never that simple. Life especially modern society can be devastating to peoples lives.

[rckllnknny]

[quote name='kafka' post='1569750' date='Jun 12 2008, 03:28 PM']wow Rick.

All I have to say is no-one is a throwaway. There are many different ways to help them according to situation. I can usually tell who the drunks and druggies are. What kills me though is that some people I've been around in the past were bitter towards the homeless. They would make remarks like, "Get a job, this is America" and stuff like that. To me that is the myopic. Its never that simple. Life especially modern society can be devastating to peoples lives.[/quote]

i concur.

[Veridicus]

[quote name='rckllnknny' post='1569834' date='Jun 12 2008, 04:10 PM']i concur.[/quote]

I thought you left?

[rckllnknny]

no just kinda retired from otherwise controversial debates. however in accordance with a futile and repitious attempts at humble resolutions may the sole purpose of my own spiritual reflection upon the meaningful devotion casually reside in of fashionable awe as so stroll on. (hope that helps answer your question)

[rckllnknny]

[CatherineM]

Your posts make my eyes wobble sometimes.

[rckllnknny]

thnx. you melt my heart too.

[picchick]

[quote name='rckllnknny' post='1570618' date='Jun 13 2008, 01:49 PM']no just kinda retired from otherwise controversial debates. however in accordance with a futile and repitious attempts at humble resolutions may the sole purpose of my own spiritual reflection upon the meaningful devotion casually reside in of fashionable awe as so stroll on. (hope that helps answer your question)[/quote]


I need to step away from the computer...too much computer for one day.

Nicely put though

[Deb]

This is today's "Take five for faith" message. How timely.

[b][color="#008080"]Monday, June 16[/color][/b]
[b]Bottomless pockets[/b]

People often seek guidance about how to respond to the "spare change" people who camp out on city streets. They also want to know what to do with the mountains of solicitations they receive in the mail. Obviously, if we gave every single time we’re approached, some of us would be asking for spare change ourselves before long. But the secret truth we don’t like to acknowledge is that most of us could give far more than we do. The best advice I’ve received is: Give till it scares you. That’s the threshold where the faith walk begins. Today’s readings:[i] 1 Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42[/i] [i]"Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you."[/i]

[Faith 1st]

You know this may sound funny...but if someone who apprears to be homeless asks me for money and I have it, I give it to them. Most of the time we have bottled water and snacks in the car and I give them that too......

I remind myself of the story in the bible where Jesus is on the side of the road and several people pass him by...but one stops to help. In the back of my mind I feel that God is testing me to see what I would do.

I also think that....that person is someones son/daughter and I would only hope that one would be so kind as to do the same for my brother or sister....


Because in the end we are all Gods children and we are all brothers and sisters

[lanie]

Just this morning I was stopped by a homeless man and asked if I had any spare change for a coffee. He was stood just outside the train station, where I was headed and so I told him I'd get him one and bring it back out. So after asking how he took it I went in and got him the biggest coffee I could find and took it out to him, we then spent about 10 minutes chatting and he was just an intelligent and friendly person. I hope I'll see him again to be able to do it again.
I'll often give something if I'm close to somewhere I'll often get them a sandwich or a drink etc. If someone asks me for money for a bus etc I'll give them it, if I have it. I know it could be funding a habit/addiction but not everyone is in that position and the odd pound here or there is of little loss to me. I'd rather give food etc, but sometimes money is easier.
I also once in a while go and help the CFR's at their soup kitchen in Bradford or London but unfortunately can't do this as often as I'd like as bradford is 3 hrs away and London 7. My Dad also donates clothes to them regularly, whenever he has a clear out of his wardrobe I ask him to bag stuff up and we give it to them when we see them. It's not much but hopefully it helps.

[johnnydigit]

i've served at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, befriended a homeless person or two, done volunteer and charity work, visited and am discerning Franciscan orders that serve the poor. i've given this much thought over the years, and this is what i have learned..

if you don't have the time to get to know the person, give them money instead. you can't assume they will spend it on drugs or misuse it. do your part, give on behalf of God, and let God do the rest. pray they use it wisely, if not, it is not your concern right now. after all, they are homeless for a reason, often because of mental instability. it would be easy for you or me to pick ourselves back up and get back on track, but for them, it is like a spiral down an endless pit. they simply are unable to do the simple and common-sense things we would do in their situation. what they need most is love.

if you don't have time to get to know the person, but don't want to give them money, buy them some food or even groceries which will last them longer. keep snacks in the car or in your backpack (or camelpak when you bicycle). keep info on shelters in the area. do.. something.

if you do have time to get to know the person, show them the spirit of God. you'll be surprised by the faith of some homeless people. you can even learn from them. you may have the best day you've had in a long time. often it's not even food they want, but someone to listen. God just wants you to try.

"why don't they just get a job?"
"what's the point?"
"they'll just spend it on drugs or cigarettes.."
"they probably make lots of money.."
"ew. ask someone else."

..these aren't trying.

[rckllnknny]

lanie & johnnydigit...your posts made my eyes teary.
im inspired.

Edited June 20, 2008 by rckllnknny

[Deb]

Very nice JD.