Earlier today I heard “excuse me sir, could you help me? My car broke down and I need gas to get my wife and kids on the road to go home to Minneapolis. I need help, I’m out of money-could you help?” I smiled at him and made eye contact as my mind raced (I’ll tell him “let me move my snake to the back seat first so we can get you some gas) , what if he is telling the truth? How do I know?
Maybe it’s where I live or my upbringing or my natural default system to believe people first and ask questions later. My arms were full of packages as I walked past him and in the door of the post office. “I’ll give you a ride to your car and your family and we will see how I can help” I said. I put the packages in the mail box inside and turned to talk some more to this needy stranger but I could see through the glass door that he was already crossing the street the opposite direction. I guess I was not very clear about my intentions to help.
How do you really know when someone is lying, scamming, or being deceitful? They don’t make lie detector apps (yet) and they wouldn’t work on people who believed themselves anyway. If this young man was not trying to scam me he probably thought he should not get a ride with a stranger. You think? Several scenarios went through my head but it seemed not to matter anymore because this guy was not interested in my help. I drove away muttering unintelligent comments to myself and coming up with more one liners for the next scam artist I encountered.
I know there will always be people who will lie, cheat, and steal. I also know that my response to their character matters not to them, but it does to me. Cynical is easy and probably hurts the cynic as well as those on the other end. Handing out a couple of dollars is just as easy and probably encourages the panhandlers to keep panning. Offering some kind of relationship in the middle of the lie is harder, full of risk, and may someday actually find someone who is being honest about their need.
I will always remember my fathers example about how others show us our character. Dad was getting his masters degree at a nearby university when he opened the door for an outspoken woman who quickly challenged him about his motives. “I suppose you opened the door because I’m a woman” she snapped. “No mam, I opened the door because I’m a gentleman” said dad.
In some ways it’s impossible to know those people who may have an agenda at our expense. Rather than viewing others as a potential win-lose situation, could we not view it as a challenge to all involved that character and people matter probably more than our money or our problems. So really, why do we need to know?
A penny for your thoughts (that’s all I have left)
garyfultz 
As almost anywhere, we have folks out on corners with their cardboard signs. But I didn’t realize how lucrative it could be until one day a man and woman I recognized walked in the sporting goods section where I worked. They had been road side sign holders in the area for several weeks. Their tent had been stolen and they needed to purchase a new one. They needed to know the price of a specific model, which was around $250. Knowing the price, out to a street corner they went, cardboard sign in tow. They were not gone more than 4 hours before returning with enough money to purchase the tent. $250 plus for 4 hours of (ahem) work.
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Wow, thats just wrong…tax free I suppose.
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My husband was a minister for years in our small town. Often people would come through, sometimes just traveling, sometimes looking for work (why here in our little alpine town, I don’t know) and call the church asking for money/a meal/gas/a place to stay. He always obliged by filling a tank, reserving a room for the night or purchasing a dinner for the family– but never offered cash.
Once, when a man with a family of small children stopped by the church asking for money, a contractor in our congregation offered the man a temporary job and a place to stay to help him get on his feet. The man refused. I was sad for the kids, but we at least got them a full tank of gas.
My husband just decided to give the help, not the cash, and let God decipher the heart. It’s difficult to imagine people blatantly taking advantage of others but it does happen.
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That’s a good way to do it. When people ask our church and neighboring churches for hand outs we have set up an arrangement with the Sherrifs office with an account for helping those who really need it. Half the people refuse that kind of help.
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