As I was driving towards the interstate to get out of town for a while I was confronted by panhandling men and one homeless panhandling woman at stop lights along the way. This is not a new problem and I have watched as it has escalated. I often roll down my window and put my hand out with some change scooped up from the little spare change holder on the car’s console. I make sure we make eye contact and I wish them good luck and ask them to stay safe. They smile and most often God Bless me. I need all the blessings I can get, that is for sure. What made me grumpy was noticing their faces, more tired, more disconnected, a more vacant look on almost all of their faces. Apparently collections were down. And ohh, I know, costs are up. I am not sure how current homeless highway meridian stalking beggars keep up with breaking news but I am somehow sure that is also part of their, and all of our, problem.
In my travels I have spent time in countries where beggars are a wholly accepted segment of the population. Begging for alms is how some dedicated religious practitioners can focus on their studies and practices without the distractions of career, the demands of the job. It is a ‘holy’ accepted part of their practice. Those that give in those countries give often, not a lot, partly because they do not have much and partly because they know a lot of other people will give a little too.
