This is just my thoughts and opinions. I am not trying to start a debate or arguments. This is something I have always wondered and so this is what I discovered.

You've seen them. On the off ramps, parking lots, just about wherever you go, they're there. Vagabonds, hoboes, bums, call them what you will, but do we have the right to judge them? I was one, who thought, "Get a job." or "They're able bodied, why not get a job.", "He's just an alcoholic or junkie, looking for a few bucks."

Did I have the right to judge that person? No. Do I know what kind of life that person had? No. Do I really know if he is an alcoholic or a junkie? No. How do we know, that that person, that looks scraggly looking, ragged old clothes, unkempt isn't God or one of His angels testing us? We don't.

Have you ever sat down and prayed to God and asked Him for help in some way or another. Then out of the blue, some bearded person, wearing a ball cap, missing a few teeth, tethered clothes, comes up to you and asks you for a dollar, just to get something to eat? What was your first impression? I know what it was...you shunned him away and thought to yourself, "He's gonna get him a bottle of cheap liquor or some drugs." What if it was God giving you the answer to your prayers? We did pray to Him, did we not?

Remember the story, about the person who prayed to God for help and three people came his way and each time he shunned them away? Then he prayed to God asking why God didn't help him in his time of need. God said to him, I did come to you my son. I came to you three times, and each time you sent me away. Well, that same thing applys to this of all things. Do we shun God away, every time we shun that bum on the street? Think about it.

What about the movie, Pay It Forward? The little boy who befriended a bum and a few others and in turn, they had to pay it forward to three other people. Do we do that today? Do you do a kind deed to see if it gets paid forward? It does say in the Bible, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Matthew 7:1, Jesus says on the Mount, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Verse 2 goes on with Him saying, "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged..." Do we want to be judged in His eyes, when we get to heaven, and He looks into the Book of Life to review our life, "________________(Your Name), do you remember the time that old man came to you asking for a pentance, so he could get something to eat, and you shunned him away? That was Me you shunned. What have you got to say for yourself?"

We could have invited them to church, if we didn't feel they could be trusted with a few bucks. They do have fellowship there, where there could be something to eat.

I know you're probably saying, "I've done this before and the guy just shoved the food away." Well, that was the devil testing you and God. He doesn't want God and your kindness. He wants that soul that knows no other life than to drink the demons in a bottle. If you prove to that person someone cares, you defeat the devil. It works, I know. That person went from a bearded man with tattered clothes, to a clean shaven man, eating well and knows nothing now, but the spirit of God and joining the Church.

Be the good samaritan and see if it doesn't help to change your life. You may be feeding God what He wants to see and you may see that your prayers will be answered. Pay it forward. But it's out there for you to see, in every day life. Grab for it while you can, before it's too late.

It's too bad that we don't trust more. The current economics, the drug situation, and every day life has taught us not to trust the "bum" on the side of the road, because we have seen too many times that "bum" go off and buy a bottle instead of the food he has so desperately led us to believe he needed. Society as a whole has changed and no longer trusts like it did 30 or more years ago. We no longer leave our doors or cars unlocked because we can't trust.

As a single mom, will I give that "bum" my spare change? Probably not, simply because I have a child that needs a pair of shoes or food on her table. There are always reasons why we don't share or trust.

Just my opinion.

Wow, Robert we do think ALOT alike man..
I LOVED THAT MOVIE,wink,...and I love this human race..
And WE should never try to judge until we have live at least a day in THAT persons shoes...THATS my truth..
Many don't care about them selves enough to even THINK about another.....GREAT POST.....

Thank you Terry...and you as well Silk...it was a good movie and I learned alot about it as well. I've also learned about the bum on the street like I said above, about the one who got cleaned up. True story.

And WE should never try to judge until we have live at least a day in THAT persons shoes


i tell my children that all the time and they do there best to do so ...
my daughter just went to washington dc last week and of all the things she had to tell me .. the first was about all the homeless ppl she had seen .. its unreal right at the steps of our goverment .

And the sad part is...the government is the one that put them there.

Ty for posting this Robert!! I wrote a piece on 12/29/07 called "Street Talk"...if I may share...

You are homeless
it's clear as you
sit in the cold.
How you found
yourself here,
God only knows.
The pain of your
story is on your
face and it shows.
Hurry up to the
shelter; we know
it will snow.

Let me give you
my blanket and
buy you some food.
There's a shop up
the street where
the coffee is
brewed.
You tell me your
story, you've
been here before.
You've cried a
million tears,
your feet pained
with sores.

I listen intently;
your history grows
more compelling.
I understand your
situation, your
words are quite
telling.
You ask no one to
judge, Lord, we
were not there!
You try to forget
the past, and
remember who
cares.

Let us never judge
who we see on the
street, for we never
know who we are
going to meet.
A fallen angel,
or someone else in
distress. We'll
never know their
story unless we
first ask.

This one could be
our brother or our
sister too. We are
so interconnected
if we only knew.
So as we lay down
in the warmth of
our beds, may we
decide to help
without
condemnation
instead.

JDS 05/27/08

That was a beautiful piece that fits right in..feel free to post anything you want. I loved it. Your heart is as mine as we share the feelings of others. Thank you for that installment my sweet friend.

Walking the streets
Alone and Cold
Home,, Gone
Heartbeat slows
Fear taken in
Society or Choice
Reality lives deep within
Tent her shelter
Food somewhere
Anger,,, Pain stricken
Hope lost
Strangers Fear not
Human is my body
Lost in a moment
Broken Hope
Help She screams
Deaf ears she does lay
Life on the Street
Not this way
Angels of Light
Lifted her Soul
Upon this night
Heavens door bestowed
Tears of Angel
Weeped this Morn......

Remember when you think you have ups and downs in life
and cant go on,,, There is someone somewhere you may
need your kindness,,, Not a stare or a OMG look,,
A helping hand in there time of need,,, Society today
needs to take a Reality check sometimes and once again remember what Kindness is all about,,,, Help someone in
need today....

Posted 2/15

Having been in a circumstance in life to lose everything I owned and end up almost homeless, the kindness of a friend saved me from the fate, I never judge them. I give to them when I can, I do not know their circumstances. Besides that I figure it like this, even if I give a dollar to a junkie once, I will probably be giving it to someone who really needs it the next time so I chose not to sit in judgement of them. I give if I can.

Great post Robert

Beautiful Denise...Fits right in here as well...thanks.

Barb, Sorry to hear about that sweetie. I am so glad someone came to your need. Angels are around.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh my arms hold you,, I too was there if not for friends I often wonder where in life I would be now....

Robert, no need to be sorry, it was a low point but I am stronger for it and I learned alot about the value in life from the experience. We never know from day to day what can happen to us so we must find all the good in each day, so that we can relish it while it is here.

wonderful post and so true

Thank you Pammie...just my mind meandering off in the blue.

Wonderful writes...


(((Robert))) Popped in to say hi!

Hello {{{{{Darlin'}}}}} hope you continue to be healing

Hey Susan...hope you're doing well my dear. Glad to see you popping in.