I saw a woman at the turnpike and 50 off ramp yesterday. It was about 5:15pm so there was the typical amount of traffic for that time of day on that long stretch of asphalt through the tolls. She walked the shoulder as the other panhandlers do with her sign but this sign was a little larger and read, “HOMELESS AND PREGNANT.” By the way, panhandling at peak commuter traffic rush hour is brilliant. Anyway, I didn’t see other fellow commuters extending their arms with cash to help her ease her plight and of course I didn’t either. I never do. I’m hardly moved when I see panhandlers which got me thinking of why we hand out cash in these situations anyway.
One day I was with my family and again I was in the same scenario at an off ramp with a panhandler walking the shoulder. This guy was probably in his 60s with a tri-fold cardboard sign that looks like a brochure that can be easily folded and stored in the back pocket. My daughter, who has an infinite amount of compassion, wanted to hand this guy some money. I get it, I’ve done it too. I’ve passed out the cash, bought the meals and even told people I’d pray for them but I stopped doing that a long time ago.
I think the only reason we hand out money at the off ramp is to make ourselves feel better. It doesn’t even matter what we think the receiver will do with the money we hand them. I doubt we even care. I think it saves us from being intentional with our charity.
