Eric's thoughts

Am I the only one? I know we have all seen “those people” on the street corner. Many with the cardboard signs reading, “Hungry, just lost my job”, “Help! Can you spare some change?” Or perhaps one of the more honest signs that I have seen, “Why lie? I need a beer!” After all that is what they are after anyway, right?

We all see them, but does anyone else react like me. I drive by, sometimes hoping not to be caught sitting at the red light ten feet from them on the corner, then I may end up making eye contact and in a moment of “weakness” pull out a dollar bill and hand it over. Maybe, I make sure that my window is up, so they don’t get the wrong idea and expect that I may give them money. After all, who knows what they are going to use the money for? And I can sure justify not giving any money because, Lord knows, I don’t want to be an enabler. I can even quote a verse, “He who doesn’t work shouldn’t eat”, to make me feel more spiritual. And I’m way too busy to buy some food and take it over, besides I’m struggling as it is.

Am I the only one? I don’t know, maybe I’m being a little too transparent here.

In this way, I believe my seven year old son may be the greatest example of a Christian I have ever seen. He is not perfect by any means, just spend the afternoon with him and you will see that. However, several months ago he challenged the way I feel about these people. Sitting in the back seat of my car he read one of those signs that said “hungry”. Intrigued, he asked a great question, “Why don’t we help that man? We have food and I have some money in my piggy bank.” It’s one thing for me to justify it to myself, but to my son? I had no good excuse. We drove to the nearest Burger King, parked the car, bought a Whopper meal and walked over to one of those people.

We came to find out that one of those people actually has a name, Daryl. And although his theology is off, he is a man that loves Jesus (he actually started “evangelizing” me as we walked over with his burger).

I have since had a few conversations with our buddy, Daryl. And every single night my boys will not let me forget to pray for him.

Jesus has definitely given my son a huge heart for the poor. He has even rubbed off a bit on his younger brother, as it has become a regular occurance that when both my boys see a person on the corner, they want to help.

And as a grown man, I want what he has, but I’m sure I’m not the only one.