One of the many things one has to deal with living in an urban landscape is people asking you for money. My first such encounters were accompanied by a certain amount of guilt and I readily handed over the change in my pocket to the needy. After a couple of months of that, however, I became as cold-blooded as the rest of the city dwellers. I can't be giving out change to every person that asks. And of course everybody's got a different story. I'd probably be more willing to give some change to anyone who had the guts to ask me for money so they could go get drunk.
So a couple of days ago I was presented with the "I just need a couple of bucks to get on the train cuz my car broke down" story. I've heard this 34 times. I'm not going to say I've heard it a million times. I'm pretty sure it's in the 30's, so let's just say 34. The guy seemed nice enough but I just wasn't in a giving mood. I did once give a lady two dollars to get on the train and she broke down and cried and thanked me. It might have been an act but she seemed genuine, mostly because her story wasn't too elaborate. Also, I think I was coming home from happy hour and was in a good mood so the two dollars wasn't that big a deal.
Yesterday I drove to work because I didn't feel like dealing with the CTA and I thought I might be at work late and it would be nice not to have to add that commute to the long day. I was entering the parking garage and this woman asked stopped me asked me if I could do her a favor. So I'm immediately suspicious. She says that her credit cards are all maxed out and she won't be paid until the next day so she can't get her car out of the garage. She says she'll write me a check if I pay her parking fee. Now she didn't look too shady. And I did kind of feel bad, but not that bad. I thought about it for a second. Would I be willing to say goodbye to $14 or maybe more? Not last night.
So these two incidents, two days in a row, got me thinking. Am I being tested? Could this be Jesus in disguise? Who knows. But if someone has some sob story for me today, I think I better give them some change.