Authenticy creates Action
The other day I was rushing to my car in the rain, trying not to get too wet, when a Bergie ran up to my car (In Cape Town - our homeless people are called "Bergies" - Berg just means mountain), with baby on hip, desperately asking for money.
Generally I get upset when people use their children to create emotion, so my immediate answer was NO, plus I was trying to keep dry and wanted to get rid of her quickly, until she desperately said - "Please maam, you really have to help me and help me NOW because the bottle store is closing in 10 minutes"!!
I have never really considered myself judgemental - I do have values - but when it is blatantly clear that someone has a desperate need, my values ... which would not purposefully feed someone's addiction, is outweighed by someone being honest and authentic ... of course I helped her because my immediate thought was who am I to judge what it takes for someone to get through the night. By the Grace of God, that could have been me!!
Did I do the right thing?
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You had offered what you can offer, and she had taken what she had needed, absolutely nothing wrong about that! You happens to be there at the Right Moment !!!
Absolutely...the greatest kindness...the one to one connection. Not all people are helped by organizations. Good for you. Debbie
thanks Droseh ... as I said above to Peter - it is human nature to respond to authenticity and connection
people end up homeless for many reasons---I was homeless several times, but I was always able to get myself back on track
a lot of people who are looking for employment need to change their mindset of what a job is today. Many are looking for those traditional jobs where they trade time for $$$ and those jobs are hard to find today
There's homeless and then there is homeless - our bergies are usually born into this life, starting life with FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) knowing nothing more than to just survive the day - so there is very little doubt that a job would be on their list of priorities when their mind can't even think straight without any form of substance.
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I applaud you Laurie. We need kindness like this in the world to make it a better one.
Jerome
Thanks Jerome - being in recovery myself one would generally frown on such an action, especially knowing exactly what she is going to buy ... but my take out of it all was how naturally we relate to authenticity - and I was not about to judge her realness