Recently I have walked right on by several pan-handlers, without making a monetary gift to them. I make eye contact and smile, but I move along without handing over any cash.
I have had a few arguments in my head: “Oh, all I have is a five” or “All my money is buried in the bottom of my bag.”
As if either of those is a valid excuse.
See, my rabbi taught me that it is not for me to determine if someone who is asking for a handout is deserving of it or not. I ought to just make the gift, and not judge if the recipient is worthy.
Once Rabbi gave me that advice, I started carrying a spare dollar or two in my pocket, to always have at the ready when I encountered a request. I found that I actually had a much easier time of things; no more energy invested in assessing another human, and much less angst about their need versus my blessings.
Somewhere along the way I slipped out of the habit. I don’t remember now when that was. But I am getting up from the computer now and putting a stack of dollar bills on the shelf beside my car keys. This way I can be sure and stash some “spare change” in my coat pockets whenever I head out the door.
Photo: Spare Change by Sean Gannan and used under Creative Commons license
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