A homeless man begged for change between traffic stops at Lakeshore Drive and 57th this morning. He held up a cardboard sign that read Merry Christmas and some other bits I didn't have time to read. After the woman gave him a dollar, the light changed and he got out from between the cars and hurried on to the side of the road.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The Season of Giving
A homeless man begged for change between traffic stops at Lakeshore Drive and 57th this morning. He held up a cardboard sign that read Merry Christmas and some other bits I didn't have time to read. After the woman gave him a dollar, the light changed and he got out from between the cars and hurried on to the side of the road.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Heart breaking.
ReplyDeleteIt's Christmas, time to give. I'm glad the Christmas spirit was in one woman's heart.
ReplyDeleteThere are pockets of homeless people here ... most often seen picking through the trash in larger cities. But not the numbers seen in the States.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would never give alms to a healthy, strong person. I think there are homes run by organizations where they can live in, learn a trade etc. I would rather give charity to my Church which makes sure the money is well spent and reaches the right hands in the form of food, work tools, blankets, clothes etc.
ReplyDelete"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Chinese Proverb
P.S. You liked my name! Tee! Hee! Thanks.
"Share with people" = worldwide way of life. It's X'mas it's time to give as Annie said.
ReplyDeleteA very moving photo. I know the adage that we shouldn't give money to street people. I disagree. There but for the grace of God, bla bla... goes the saying.
ReplyDeleteI have my favourite street people and always give to them. How difficult is it to give a few euros?
There are, in summer, some young people who just think they'll beg and so get a free summer in the south of France. They don't get my money! That's different. You get to know the ones who need it.
very sad. I don´t give money, i prefer to give clothes, or help in another necessity.
ReplyDeleteI´m afraid where the money can go.
I am always feeling conflicted when I see these guys. On the one hand, I am like Web-oj. I think I am enabling destructive behavior by giving money to an apparently healthy pan-handler. On the other hand, I do want to do something to help. So, sometimes I will swing through a McD drive through and come back and give them a meal. I rarely give them cash.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic by the way. I was born in South Shore Hospital. Is it in that area?
My favorite of the cardboard signs used by beggers, was one that read "Why lie, I need a beer".
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to see a healthy looking man, begging on the streets. Makes me wonder about his life story.
Thank you Eliane, Annie, R&R, Web-Oj, Fabrizio, Jilly, Maria Elisa, Dan and Wendy. I appreciate very much your reactions and opinions. I myself have different feelings regarding people asking for money--there is a time to give and a time not to give...
ReplyDeleteTrue, some people beg to feed their addictions--it's hard to trust sometimes--but it's Christmas and we are all in need, some of our needs are just not as obvious as this man's...
Oh and I forgot to tell you Dan, this isn't too far from South Shore Hospital...(at about 7500 south)
ReplyDeleteThanks, I thought it was nearby. I think my wife would say that is where all the trouble started !
ReplyDeleteAs for the pan-handler, my general principle was stated by Paul the apostle "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." The problem is of course sorting out the deserving needy from the lazy, shiftless and addicted. As you said, we are all in need and I am eternally grateful for those who have helped me along the way. I want to do the same for others in a responsible way.
This was a great, thought provoking pic.
Thank you, Dan
ReplyDeletethis is such a common sight here, and with the high incidence of car-jacking, it has become dangerous to open your window, very sad.
ReplyDeleteOh my suzi-k, that sounds pretty scary...
ReplyDelete