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I think this is a good post and, like you said, is a good FReeper conversation.

We all have different experiences from all over. In Colorado, there was an influx of bums when pot became legal.

I’ve traveled around a bit. The most unworthy I’ve seen are the ones near the pot stores, and in Tampa Florida where they actually wear safety vests (orange/day-glo) on the medians.

Locally, the ones outside wally world are the worst. But...

I’ve had several over the past couple years at the stoplight on the way to work at a military base catching the morning and afternoon commutes.

I stop and chat and get to know them while I’m waiting at the light.

Ray was the first. I might have given him a buck or two initially. Then we got to chatting. When he talked about having to use his riding lawn mower on his property...boy that was interesting. Then I figured out which car was his at the no-tell mo-tel next door. Because the car was always there when he was. Nice. Brand new white cross-over of some label that I can’t afford. I called him out on it and he went away.

John was the next. John lives under an overpass. Says if he can stay dry he’ll stay warm. I was a little worried about him a couple Decembers ago when the temps were 0 or below. John doesn’t really even beg. He’s just there and if you want to throw him a buck or two he’s grateful. He picks up trash around the whole intersection and just kind of hangs out. But he just seems to like living rough. He adopted a little stray dog he calls “Hershey”. (no, he doesn’t feed her chocolate). John’s a good guy, not into drugs or anything. He just likes to live free.

Next one is Joshua. He’s around the same area but I don’t think he’ll be long. Probably a meth head or something. Talks about taking care of his wife. She’s probably more of a meth head than he is. We’ll see.

John has a sense of humour. He used to stand with a sign that simply said “God Bless”. How can you go wrong with that? Then, last Fall, he started holding a sign that said “The End is Near”. I asked him about it.

He said, “This is my Halloween costume. Freaks people out”.

That got him five bucks from me. I guess out on the coasts five bucks isn’t much, but here in the heartland, it’s a lot. It’s a meal.

I guess my point is that I’ll get to know someone before I give them my money, or my help.

I’m not sure about Josh yet. We’ll see. I hope his wife is okay.

I guess I need to go there tomorrow and see what I can do.

I always remember Hebrews 13:2 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

God bless everyone.