Spare a Little Change?

I've been thinking alot about Matthew 5:42. This verse is from Jesus' beloved Sermon on the Mount and reads in part: "Give to everyone who begs from you."

This is one tall order. Even in biblical times, beggers abounded and the generous must have felt wary that the beggar might spend the charity on prostitutes, wine or drugs. But this commandment doesn't come with directions that we may forget about it if we believe that the beggar will use the money in ways in which we don't approve.

My good friend John lives in New York. He's approached often and usually gives money to beggars. He once told me, "Usually these folks say: 'Thank you. God bless you.' I've come to think of giving away a dollar and getting a blessing from God as a pretty good deal."

I have to agree.

Recently, my new friend Harriet (Hey, Harriet!) and I were standing outside the bookstore, continuing a lively discussion that began over a cup of coffee inside. We were talking about the verse above when we were approached by a man asking for change. We looked at each other amazed that God was telling us to put our money where our mouths were -- literally! As we shuffled through our purses, the man introduced himself as Gabriel. He worked at the rib joint up the road and needed some change to get home. He hugged us (he smelled like sweet hickory smoke), gave us God's blessing, and went on his way. To this day, we like to believe that he was angel sent to test our generosity!

Today, as my husband and I drove to the dog park with our coondog, we pulled up to a stop sign where a homeless man was begging for change. His sign read: "I'm homeless and hungry/Please help/God bless you" and was decorated with crosses across the bottom of the ragged cardboard. My husband asked if we should help him out. I said yes and reminded him that the last person I helped out was angel in disguise. Just as I was saying so, I turned toward the nearby dilapidated building and a poster of the Virgin Mary hanging in the window caught my eye! I took it as a little nod from God and smiled to myself for the rest of the afternoon.

So, are you willing to spare a little change?