I was in northeast Denver a few weeks back heading to Bass Pro Shop.  (I’d never been.  It’s a HUGE store).  As I stopped at the end of the ramp there were two people sitting at the stop light.  A man and a woman, very dirty and probably homeless, were hoping for a handout.  Holding up the standard cardboard sign, it read, “Homeless, hungry.  Anything to help.  God bless.”

For years I’ve never given to people like this.  I’ve heard stories about beggars, none of them good.  They beg all day and then drive back to their home.  Hmmm?   Or, they take the money and head straight for their drug supplier or the liquor store.  I never gave because I never knew what they’d do with what I’d give them.

Looking back, that’s not a very good way to look at their situation.  We’re not giving because we can’t monitor the giving.  Well, we tip a waitress but we never ask what they’re going to do with my tip.  We give at church but we never ask what our particular gift is specifically going to.  So why don’t we give to people like the two I saw on the off ramp?

The difference is in perceptions and relationships.  There is no positive relationship and there is negative perception.  These are the hurdles we have to jump over when we start giving

Here are a few other hurdles we have to conquer that you may be able to relate to:

1.      Overcoming our suspicion. “What do they have in that bag they’re carrying?”  Drugs, alcohol, stolen property.  Whatever.  Well, it’s none of our business.  I doubt they’d refuse money from me because they’re wondering what I have in my trunk.  This is a terrible way to decide whether or not to give.  Suspicion or not, be open to give to a presented need.  Listen to your heart.

2.      Overcoming the unfamiliar. “I don’t know them, so…”  We all tend to fear the unknown.  Overcoming the unfamiliar is the first step to seeing deeper into the needs of the unfamiliar.
While in Vancouver a few years ago, I was working with a group that did a weekly route with a “food cart” downtown where many homeless people were.  Over time, they built relationships with some of these people.  Initially, everyone was unfamiliar, but over time that changed.  Relationships were formed.  Overcome the excuse of the unfamiliar even if your giving may be a onetime thing.  Better yet, become familiar with the need and the individual associated with that need.  It takes time and effort but it will be meeting a much deeper need than a onetime gift.

3.      Overcoming stereotyping. “They look like that, so they must be…”  I read about an experiment done in New York City some time ago.  A man dressed like a bum stood on a corner somewhere on Wall Street begging for money.  He said he was down on his luck and needed just a little to get himself going again.  He received a certain amount of money over the course of several hours.  One week later, the same day on same street corner, the same man did the same thing dressed in a suit and tie.  He begged for money using the same statement as a week ago.  He received considerably more money than the previous week.  Nobody even recognized he was the same person.
The researchers concluded that people saw the suit or the rags.  They did not see the person.  Also, they equated the suit to a businessman down on his luck in business.  They equated the ragged, dirty clothes to a person with no ambition or work ethic, being an alcoholic or drug addict.  We stereotype without ever getting to see the person.  Too many times we base our giving on a stereotype profile and not on the person or the need.  See the person.

4.      Overcoming our skepticism. “I don’t think they’re really that needy.”  We are a skeptical society.  We don’t trust a lot of people we know so why would we trust people we don’t know.  And why would we give money to people we don’t trust.  This speaks to the very core of giving.  Try to forget the trust issue.  Don’t question the need.  Question why you you’re so skeptical of a situation you have absolutely no information about beyond your immediate observation.  Look for potential, hope and blessing in your giving.

5.      Overcoming rationalization.  “I can’t help them this time.”  We are all very good a rationalization.  If we really don’t want to do something we’ll find an excuse not to do it.  Again, listen to your heart.  Sometimes, or even many times, we just can’t help.  But what is our heart telling us to do this one time.  Sometimes we need to be a little irrational in our giving ethic.  Just do it, in spite of every good reason not to.

Sometimes, we just have to learn to stop thinking and act from the heart.  The heart overcomes whatever excuses our mind pushes us toward.

By the way, I didn’t think very hard before I opened my window and gave them $10.  They seemed genuinely grateful and nodded their thanks to me as I pulled away with the green light.  In just a few seconds I had to get by all the things I listed above so that I’d give.  I think it was because I didn’t think too hard.  Also, it had to do with timing, as I had the “extra” cash easily available.

I don’t really wonder what they did with my money.  It doesn’t matter because it wasn’t my money any more.  I am not the monitor of what I give.  I only need to be willing to give.

The downside: You may be in need of the very money you just gave away.  Oh well.

The upside: You were a blessing to someone else, a stranger, or maybe even an angel in disguise.

The payoff: Don’t do it for the payoff.  There may not be one for you.  But there was one for someone else.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to open my eyes just a little more.  I’d hate to miss something my heart is trying to tell me.