Pastor Disguises Himself

[LaSainte]

The reason my family was homeless was do to a job promise that didn’t pan out. We moved across the country (from the east coast to the west coast) with a horse trainer. My husband had been working for him for a few years at that point so we trusted this man. After we got to this new state, the trainer let us know that he was hurting for money and was “hopeful that he would get back on his feet after the move, but sadly it’s not happening.” well, lucky for him, he had rich friends to run off to for help while my husband, son and I were left alone in a state far from family and knowing no one. We had no car, no money, no resources whatsoever. After a few weeks my husband told me to take our son and go to a shelter. He remained on the streets. The shelter was for women and children only. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it would be. We were safe, fed, clothed and generally well cared for. The other families at the shelter were good people. Tgere were no alcoholics, drug addicts, violence–none of that. Most were victims of domestic violence, many were single moms who had no education so jobs were hard to find and still not enough to cover everything, and others were grandmothers who were struggling to raise grandkids. The men my husband met on the streets, yes, quite a few were mentally ill or addicted. They were also very kind to my husband and helped encourage him to not give up and “fall like we have.” many became addicted after they gave up hope, not homeless because of their addictions. Yes, many do lose everything because of addictions as well. Many stay homeless because it is nearly impossible to get a job if you don’t have an address. You can’t apply for government services. Most shelters are overflowing and have a time limit of 30-90 days so time is extremely limited to get back on your feet. It is a nasty cycle and it isn’t difficult to fall into it. The way we finally got out was that I told my family how things were. It took months for me to do that. Part was pride, bigger part embarrassment. But they bought plane tickets for us to come home, moved us in with them, and never judged us.

I find it so sad that on a Catholic website I repeatedly find so many judgmental people. I’m not exculsively speaking of posts about the homeless. I see it on here all the time about many things. I have no problem with differences of opinion, but for people to just cast off an entire segment of society (homeless, gays, anyone different than yourself, etc), should have no place on a website that is supposed to promote Catholicism.

Amen!

 

[LaSainte]

No one is being judgmental nor casting off entire segments of society. The fact of the matter is that there is such a thing as the deserving and the undeserving poor. What is most helpful is when limited resources are applied to the deserving poor who need a hand up, not a hand out. At the Bishop Ott shelter here in Baton Rouge, they have to kick everyone out in the morning or they will stay there all day waiting for the next handout. That is reality. Don’t confuse being judgmental with being prudent.

And no one casts off gay people here but they do acknowledge that living a gay lifestyle is contrary to the faith and the traditional teachings of the Church. That *does *have a place on a Catholic website.

The deserving and undeserving poor. And I suppose you are the judge of that?

 

[LaSainte]

When I was about 16, a man used to panhandle on the corner. I was driving by in my little white Honda that my Daddy bought me for my 16th with the windows down. It was starting to get cold out for Florida and it was near Christmas time. He came and asked me for some cash at the red light and I gave him a dollar. He smiled ear to ear and we chatted for a couple of seconds. He said, “You know, it’s getting so cold out! I’ve been praying all day for God to bring me a jacket and I just know He’s gonna come through for me today”, he smiled.

Well, needless to say, I went home and got a jacket from my Dad’s closet that he never wore, several sweaters and a blanket and brought them to him. He was ecstatic, talking about how you just have to have faith and God will provide.

I got to help God that day in strengthening the faith of this man-all because I made eye contact, said “hi”, gave the man a dollar, and spoke to him like a human being. Now maybe that man died of a crack overdose the next day using the dollar I gave him to help fuel his habit. Or MAYBE what happened gave him just the boost of faith and love he needed to try again, to go back to church, to give his family a call.

I don’t know. Nobody but God does. But I did my Christian duty that day and not only did it help that man, but it filled my heart with such joy and compassion that I will never look at the homeless the same again. We have to let God work through us with compassion and love and hope that it is enough to inspire even the most marginalized among us. And to think that he thought I was the one who helped HIM.

 

[cheezey]

Giving money to someone and smiling at a person are two totally different things, first of all. Secondly, God is not going to judge ME based on what these peoe do with the $2 I give them on the street. He is going to judge me based upon how I treated them. If a man goes out and buys a beer with the money I give him, well, that is between him and God. But my job is to show a little bit of Christian compassion. A smile, “God bless”, and yes, even the occasional spare change is seriously the least A person can do to show some of these people that we don’t think they aren’t human garbage on their way into Starbucks for a $3 latte. A good 10% of the homeless I interact with regularly have no legs or are in a wheelchair. I have ZERO business judging these people or what they do with the money I may give them to make their existence a little more tolerable. Maybe if I had no family to care for me and no legs to walk on, I would drink too. Heck, I drink when I’m stressed sometimes anyway and my problems arent NEARLY that bad, thank God. Sometimes the best thing we can do in the moment is show them that we care and that God cares, just for a second, and hope it makes an impact.

If I could know that my 5 dollar bill would add up with others’ to make a profound and positive difference, that’s one thing.
If it warms a body via bourbon or coffee, I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to be warm in the (desperate) moment. Moments are all some people will ever have. That’s equally sad to know.

When I had no money and no gloves in 20 degree weather, I was crying wanting a cup of hot coffee. Cannot express enough how the occaisonal free coffee or spare bill to get it was appreciated. That change would not have changed my whole life, but it did make the cold bearable for a few moments til I could get to the next moment of hope.

 

[LaSainte]

If I could know that my 5 dollar bill would add up with others’ to make a profound and positive difference, that’s one thing.
If it warms a body via bourbon or coffee, I wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting to be warm in the (desperate) moment. Moments are all some people will ever have. That’s equally sad to know.

When I had no money and no gloves in 20 degree weather, I was crying wanting a cup of hot coffee. Cannot express enough how the occaisonal free coffee or spare bill to get it was appreciated. That change would not have changed my whole life, but it did make the cold bearable for a few moments til I could get to the next moment of hope.

“Moments are all some people will ever have”. Beautifully said, and so true.

 

[Timothysis]

If a man goes out and buys a beer with the money I give him, well, that is between him and God.

No, it is between you and him. And if he, in a drunken state, does something that hurts or injures anyone, even himself, then you are partly to blame. That is neither charity nor compassion.

Like it or not, most charitable organizations will tell people to NOT give money to people on the street because of the fact that most times it only fuels their addictions. I remember reading on this very site that the Franciscans will, if someone asks for money for food, will take them somewhere and buy them something instead of giving them money. They know what will mostly likely happen if you just give them money. They have far more experience than you and I in the matter.

I have ZERO business judging these people or what they do with the money I may give them to make their existence a little more tolerable.

Getting drunk off of beer makes their lives “more tolerable?”

Heck, *I drink when I’m stressed *sometimes anyway and my problems arent NEARLY that bad, thank God.

Using alcohol that way is bad behavior and is comparable to using illicit drugs.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Giving people a hand up through organized charities rather than giving them a hand out on the street is not uncharitable. It is just a different way, a different approach, to help those in need. It is my personal opinion that it is more effective to help the homeless get back on their feet, to help them become self-sufficient again, along the line of “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” Aren’t we all entitled to choosing how we help?

 

[Timothysis]

The deserving and undeserving poor. And I suppose you are the judge of that?

I lived next door to the undeserving poor for 7 years. I saw them take a perfectly nice house and turn it into something that would embarrass Sanford & Son. Between the garbage in the backyard, the broken-down cars under the carport, the pitbulls in the backyard, their deadbeat drunken buddies and their own filthy, drunken criminal behavior that had them hauled away by the police for a time, then yes, I suppose that for once I CAN judge that.

Their father originally lived alone in the house and he was a perfectly fine and decent man. Two of his deadbeat sons arrived and eventually forced the old man to leave and go to another sons house. I also forgot to mention that one of their deadbeat friends came into my backyard when I wasn’t home, broken into my shed and stole lawn equipment from me. As a result I had to spend over $2000 on a fence between me and them. Finally, Providence heard my prayer when they managed to catch the house on fire one cold winter night. The damage was significant enough for the house to have to be renovated. The eldest son of the family ran the father’s estate and finally had a legal way of getting them out of there. After the house was renovated, the deadbeats showed up and broke into the house trying to force their way back in. They were eventually booted out for good and the house was bought by the Catholic Church that is practically in my backyard. Now, it is mainly the Girl Scouts and other Church groups who use it in the afternoon and I must say that I appreciate the fact that they don’t leave beer cans in my driveway like the others did.

I’ve seen the deadbeats around. They are homeless and one of them was filthy drunk when I saw him. But yeah, I think I can judge them. If you had that living next door to you for 7 years, you would judge them, too.

 

[Timothysis]

Aren’t we all entitled to choosing how we help?

Sure, as long as what we do is genuinely helpful. Fueling someone’s addictions, however, does not strike me as being helpful nor charitable.

 

[Timothysis]

Now maybe that man died of a crack overdose the next day using the dollar I gave him to help fuel his habit…But I did my Christian duty that day

That is, indeed, a strange perspective.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Sure, as long as what we do is genuinely helpful. Fueling someone’s addictions, however, does not strike me as being helpful nor charitable.

I agree. That is why I now choose to support St. Vincent de Paul (and other Catholic charities) only and resist giving cash to those I see on the street. It is hard, but I think it is the best way to really help.

 

[Timothysis]

I agree. That is why I now choose to support St. Vincent de Paul (and other Catholic charities) only and resist giving cash to those I see on the street. It is hard, but I think it is the best way to really help.

St. Vincent de Paul is a fine organization. I tend to give to the various second collections at Mass, though I do (when I can) give to the Franciscan Missions. They serve the poorest of the poor in the world and it is amazing how much as little as $25 can provide.

 

[LaSainte]

Sure, as long as what we do is genuinely helpful. Fueling someone’s addictions, however, does not strike me as being helpful nor charitable.

It is not for you to judge or say what someone will use the money they are given for, unless you have explicit knowledge of it and them. To just assume that a beggar on the street will use your money for an addiction or to hurt another person, is an ugly thing.

 

[Timothysis]

It is not for you to judge or say what someone will use the money they are given for, unless you have explicit knowledge of it and them. To just assume that a beggar on the street will use your money for an addiction or to hurt another person, is an ugly thing.

Nonsense! Even charitable organizations will tell you that it is better to not give money to people on the street for the simple fact that more times than not, it fuels bad behavior.

Just because it makes you feel good to give money to people on the street doesn’t mean that you are doing them any favors, especially if they die from it. It is hardly your “Christian duty” to perpetuate someone else’s misery.