There was one interaction that occurred today that grabbed my attention. It happened innocently enough and certainly unexpected but an interaction at a gas station just west of Cleveland has got me thinking. We were cruising from PA into Ohio and we were getting close to the western suburbs of Cleveland. I looked down at the gas gauge and we were getting low. So I pulled off at the next exit and pulled into the BP, hoping that there was going to be an easy way in and out because of the trailer. Just as I got out of the car a man dressed in a Miami Dolphins jersey and matching shorts approached me. Now he stuck out like a sore thumb and immediately drew your attention, especially given the bright colors of his clothing and at first I thought to myself where is this going to go?
He came up to Jeff, Jess and I and asked for two bucks, no it was a dollar fifty to be exact, so that he could purchase oil for his car. Apparently he and his "family" were traveling from Cleveland to Ashtibula, a town near the PA border, and something blew in his car and he was leaking oil. He then went to a shop and they charged him $300 to fix it, mind you they "fixed it" by inserting a bolt into a connection where a bolt does not belong, and was now on his way and out of gas and oil. At first glance and upon hearing his story you can't help but feel for the guy. He also threw in a "it's my kid's birthday" into the story, so naturally we wanted to help. I gave him two bucks for the oil which was a start, and then Jeff offered to buy him twenty bucks worth of gas. He gladly accepted both and was gone before we were done in the restroom and paying for our gas. As we were walking back to the car I asked Jeff, "how much of that story did you believe?"
I asked that only because I have run into a few of these interactions before. Now don't get me wrong I am glad to extend a helping hand to anyone, as long as it is within my means, and we did indeed help him, but it still begs the question, was his story true and were his intentions right? Jeff thought about my question for a minute and then responded, and this is not a direct quote but you will get it, "of course we help and I have found that if you give the person what they need and not the money." He was right. Had the guy wanted money for other reasons he would not have graciously accepted our help, and instead would not be happy with us.
This got me thinking about how, if we become ordained, where is the line if there is one at all? Where is the line that is drawn in the sand that delineates our obligation to help others, when we know that somehting does not add up? I am, by nature, a person that would seek out all means to help someone in need, so how do we prevent ourselves from being used by those who seek to exploit the kindness of others? If I were wearing a collar, how do I say no to someone who approaches you asking for help? I know that there are people that thrive on taking from others, I am not blind to our culture, but would I be wrong to pass that man by and pretend ignorance? I truly believe that it would be wrong because ignorance, and in this case feigned ignorance, is never good and absolves no one. Perhaps I must be resigned to the fact that I will be taken advantage of in certain situations. Perhaps I must be aware that the good I seek in everyone will not be met with good intentions.
If the interaction that happened today occurred again, I would without a doubt help him in any way I could. Call me a sucker, but I would rather get burned by someone then fail to act when it was truly needed.
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