Sunday, December 16, 2007
What will you do?
On Sunday, December 16 for the Third Sunday of Advent, Apostles Church looked at the challenge to Give More. Each person present at our worship gathering was given a $10 bill and encouraged to use it to bless someone in our city. People in attendance were encouraged to either use their $10 bill individually to bless someone or to join their $10 with others at Apostles and do something larger for someone in need. This blog is created to provide a place for people to post what they did with their $10. Leave a comment and share how God led you to use your $10 bill. Maybe you shared a meal with a homeless person; or you bought a hat and gloves and scarf for someone who needed warmth; or maybe you used it to buy a toy for a child of the working poor. What did you do? Nothing is too small and nothing is too large to share. Join the community conversation and tell us your story.
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My $10 was nothing epic. I was walking up to my school's student center when an old man outside stopped me and asked me for money. Since Sunday's service, I'd been thinking of ways to best use the $10. I could throw it in a musician's collection box, or give it to a man or woman on the subway (one of those with an undeniably sad story, walking up and down the train cars — sometimes with children). I could give it to the homeless man who sits with a cardboard sign on Union Square. There were a lot of possibilities. Who was most needy? Who would use the $10 the best? It's hard to tell whose stories are real — the amputee in the subway is more convincing than the clean-shaven man asking for a couple of dollars. Is the man shivering behind a cardboard sign more deserving than a street performer? I have trouble judging.
The man that stopped me in front of the student center was really no different from the hundreds of other people who've asked me for money in the city. I don't know what he was going to do with the money, or how badly he needed it. What was I going to do? Interview him for his worthiness and need, as if I were a social worker? All I know is that he asked me for exactly $10. He looked cold and said he just needed $10 to get some warmth. That could've meant food and a hot drink, or a jacket or gloves, or drugs. I don't know. He happened to be right there, as I was going into my student center, and I happened to have the amount he needed. I'd like to think that it wasn't just coincidence.
My wife and I passed a woman sitting under some scaffolding in midtown asking for money to pay the rent for her and her 4 children. When we bent down to talk to her to see if we could help, we found out that she was spanish and did not understand english. After some futile attempts to communicate with her we decided to go and purchase some gift certificates to McDonalds with our 2 ten dollar bills.
We returned to her and I asked her name using the few spanish words that I knew. "Catalina" was her response. She was very happy to receive the gift certificates. It was frustrating to not be able to communicate with her further and our twenty dollars was insufficient to fill her need. But maybe it provided her a little hope, and it has certainly helped remind us that there is immense need in our city. There is more we can do.
So far I've only spent a portion of my Jefferson. I met a man named Darell last night on the subway who was asking for help getting something to eat. I told him that if he got off at my stop I'd be happy to, and so he shook my hand and said "thanks." When we got above ground I asked what he wanted - pizza, Mexican, chicken - whatever. He took two cheese danishes and a hot chocolate. I prompted him to get more; I told him that I'd love to get him something for later. He said that he "didn't want to be greedy" and that the danishes and hot chocolate would "do just fine." He asked for help getting a paying job and I pointed him down to the Bowery Mission - they have a job placement program.
Darell most likely struggles with some mental deficiencies, which saddens me. Not so much because of his particular issues, but because it reminds me that I am still not aware enough of the network of resources in New York. To truly be prepared to serve my neighbors, I need to understand their various needs and how to help meet them. I need to know where to take Darell to get the best help. I still have much to learn about the city in that regard.
Darell helped remind me that our neighbors are very often hungry on the subway - and sometimes they'll let us know it. And he helped remind me that humility and thankfulness are intoxicating qualities that bring joy to the hearts of others. I need Darell to rub off on me a little bit.
The $10 was a tangible reminder that I told Arthur I would by him some long underwear, so that he could better brave the cold.
Arthur works outside of our church office building, passing out promo flyers for a neighboring business. Every time I walk by, Arthur is always glad to see me, greeting me with a large smile and a loud, enthusiastic, "HHHeeeyyy!!!"
Ryan and I met Arthur several months ago, while walking back from a meeting.
As we approached our building, we noticed an old, immigrant woman perched on a step, nursing a crippled foot. She was begging for coins, so we stopped, inquiring if she had any food. She didn't, so we offered to buy her a sandwich and drink. She cheerfully accepted. Amazingly, as we handed her the lunch, she reached out and took our hands. I said, "The Lord Jesus bless you." And she replied with strong, accented speech, "Yes, and we must say, 'Jesus,' or else people here won't know which Lord we mean." I was stunned.
Arthur was stunned, too. Not by what he heard, but by what he saw. Being too far away to hear the woman's words, he was near enough to see our actions. So, he stopped Ryan and me, inquiring why we stopped to buy the old, crippled woman some food. We shared that we were with a church and that it was our privilege to serve her in the Name of Jesus. Arthur said he never had seen such a thing in New York.
We listened to Arthur's story for a while that day. Ex-military. Recovering. Homeless. But hopeful. Arthur was hungry, too, so we bought him a sandwich. In return, Arthur has given us friendship and faith. Every day that we see him, Arthur requests prayer.
Pray for Arthur. He's been trying to get an apartment for months now. We've helped him with his paperwork. He's been twice denied, but it looks promising now.
Monday I gave Arthur his gift of warmth. "Merry Christmas, Arthur!" I exclaimed. "A gift? For me?" was all he could say ...
This morning as I walked to work I prayed that God would put someone in my path to give the $10.00 to. My day was like any other, however I seemed to be on the "lookout" for someone who appeared to need the money. On the way home from picking up my son from day care, I was walking in the rain and I stopped at a crosswalk along side a soaking wet, and probably very cold, man looking in the garbage for food. When he and I got to the other side of the street I asked him if I could buy him a hot meal and he said "Yes! Please!" So I walked with one hand holding my umbrella over him and myself and the other pushing my stroller. We talked about the weather just as I would with a colleague or friend. When we got to the pizza place he parked his cart and I gave him the $10.00 and we each wished the other a happy and blessed holiday. He looked me in my eyes thanked me sincerely for the money, told me how kind I was and wished my son and I a nice night and then he went inside.
Now, I would like to say that I saw him order a steaming hot pizza with a huge smile on his face and a heart full of gratitude, but that would be a lie. As I left the pizza place, I pulled my stroller to the side and saw him stand in the pizza place for a short while and then leave quickly with his cart, back into the cold, wet rain without a single slice.
Yes, my first thought was "I should have given the money to someone who would have used it for food." But then I thought, it's not about the pizza or the $10. I have no idea what he spent the money on and it doesn't really matter. The offering was received with gratitude and I hope that he and I both learned something tonight about giving and receiving.
Receiving the $10 on Sunday somehow increased the sense of urgency I felt to reach out and help my neighbors who are less fortunate. Each day I found my self praying that god would put forward someone that would could use this $10. Days passed and I found myself intentially looking for people in need on my daily commute, walks to meetings etc.
Today the lord put that person litteraly on my front door step. As I left my apartment this morning, a gentlemen started walking with me and we made eye contact. We started chatting and he pulled out a gift card from his pocket from Burlington coat factory for $20. He said that he was trying to get back up north to his shelter and that he needed bus money so he asked if I would buy this card off of him for $10. In these situations I find myself becoming immediatly skeptical but this quickly disapated as we continued to converse.
He said he was 49 suffering from aids and that he lived in a shelter for gay men north of the city. He showed me his I.D. card for the shelter and talked how being in this city was hard and he wanted to go north.
I gave him the $10 and he insisted giving me the gift certificate and wanted me to give it to someone else in need.
What a great morning and am thankful God put this person in my path.
As soon as I received the $10 I thought of who to give it to. One of the children I work with told me "sometimes we have little food". My job has restrictions on personally helping my clients. Since the income originated from the congregation it was a perfect opportunity.
I took a wire/wicker basket I had. I filled it with five items that I purchased in the supermarket with the $10. Ok it went a little over but that's fine.
I handed it to the mother of the child who received it with a warm smile and thankfullness.
Through the inspiration of another member of Apostles the idea of a food gift card was the manifestation of my ten dollar bill. I have started building a relationship with a needy man named Roland, who asks for spare change outside of the Starbucks on my way to work. He has strategically placed himself outside of the Starbucks, because lets face it, who can pay that much for a cup of coffee and not feel guilty if you don’t help the needy.
In the past my help has only been a couple of dollars, a cup of coffee, or just conversation. However, my ten dollars allowed me to provide Roland with at least two satisfying meals from McDonalds and to continue to express to him the love of Christ. I would like to thank our church for putting their money where there mouth is. This has been one of the most innovative church efforts I have ever participated in.
My $10 bill story began a couple of weeks ago, while volunteering at the Hope for New York dinner they held for homeless persons. After watching the bathrooms for an hour, I walked out into the dining room to see where else I was needed and wound up talking to this guy, Jasper.
At the time, nothing about him stood out to me I guess, and I honestly don't even know why I started talking to him of all people, but once I did I knew there was something else at play: I learned that he is also originally from St. Louis; that he also spent some time in Chicago; and that we're both now in NYC (obviously). So we talked a lot about places we both knew in these cities, other cities we've visited, B.O., his surpassing intelligence, and about larger things we're looking for out of life. And of course I listened to his hustle: beatboxing. By the end of the night, the dinner had come to an end and another person & I were trying to convince him to come to this other ministry/celebration the following Tuesday night. We all parted ways and the following Sunday I was given a $10 bill in church. And I knew immediately who I wanted to have it. I was really hoping to see him again.
And when Tuesday rolled around, I found myself singing along with the others at the celebration we had invited Jasper to, while I looked around the room for him. I met other people there (a weekly gathering at the Crown House, lead by the 'Gifted Voices' ministry, where they sing songs together and point the residents toward Christ). The residents were in need just as much as Jasper. But I was holding out, hoping to help him. By the end of the night I was helping clean up and soon went home. He never showed up.
After receiving the $10 bill, I had been doing a lot of thinking about what it is to serve another person. That's what we promise to do when we marry someone; that's what we do oftentimes in our jobs; that's what Jesus came to do; that's what the word "city" really means on the banner behind JR as he gives his sermons on Sundays; and in a larger sense, that's what it means to be Christians. We're here to serve one another. We're here to serve the city. Sometimes we're lucky enough to get to learn a little bit about the person/s we're serving. And sometimes we're just here to simply help.
So when, riding the subway home a few days later, someone came walking down the aisle asking for money, I dropped my $10 bill in their cup. I heard their name, but can't remember their story or anything. And of course I don't know how he spent the money. I just remember that Jesus once said something about giving to those who beg from you (Matt 5.42). And I was just glad to be able to help, in whatever little way I was able.
With the $10 dollars that I was given I was able to provide breakfast for a homeless man while I was on my way to work. And donated the rest to those who needed a little extra in order to get by the day.
My $10 bill was spent much like many of the other bills that were distributed - providing food for someone who was in need of it. Before I left NYC for the holiday, my wife and I talked about what we would do with our bills - what we could do that would provide the most benefit. I've given money and gift cards to people who've needed it before, but this time I was determined to reach beyond just giving - I wanted to try to do a little more. Unfortunately, by the time we left the city for Christmas, I still had my bill. It seemed that every time I came across someone in need, there was some other engagement or deadline pressing on me, preventing me from being able to invest in someone.
I came across Paul during a leisurely stroll in Old Town Alexandria, down by the Potomac River. He was a late middle-aged man, with a cane and a noticeable limp. He asked me if I could spare a little to help him out; I offered to buy him a cup of coffee at the Starbucks on the corner, which he gladly accepted. On our way in (past the Salvation Army kettle - who reminded me that there are only 2 more days left, and that there's always more that can be done), I learned his name was Paul, and that he really wanted to be able to sit down for a bit. Fortunately, there was one table available, and I asked him to sit while I got what he wanted.
Paul said he really would love a particular type of egg salad sandwich - they didn't have the exact one, and when I offered him the one they did have, he was hesitant because he felt the price was too much. I assured him it was no problem, and that I would gladly get him the coffee he wanted (decaf, black), plus a bottle of water for later. The baristas told me the coffee was still brewing, and asked if it was for Paul, and offered to bring it out to him when it was ready. They then comp'd the coffee, charging me only for the water and sandwich. I'd like to think that they covered the coffee as a result of inspiration, rather than as an apology for Paul having to wait a few minutes.
Paul and I talked for a few minutes, and I believed him when he assured me he's neither a drinker or smoker (he even usually avoids caffeine!). I apologized that I couldn't do more, but being from out of town, I have no knowledge of the resources available down here. I promised to pray for him before leaving, and gave him the remaining $2 that I would have spent on the coffee.
As my friend and I were walking around the village on Saturday night, we passed a man with a sign asking for food. He was obviously cold and in a moment of inspiration, I asked him the obvious question. He replied yes and I proceeded to remove the scarf from my neck and pull the gloves off my hands. I made a comment about not being sure if the gloves would fit or not, but he assured me that they would fit better than the non-existent ones he currently had. After giving these to him, I turned to go but he stopped me. He asked me my name, and when I told him, he looked me in the eye, shook my hand and said thank you.
I guess I did this a bit backwards, but it seemed to have a much greater impact on both of us than simply buying him something would have. As for me, I’m undecided as to where my ten dollars should go. Should I replace the scarf and gloves I gave away, or should I find someone else to bestow this gift upon?
I don't know why but I bought a very strange gift with my $10. There is a woman who lives on the street near me that is in her 30s and I have slowly been trying to get to know her, nervously and usually only with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee.
For some reason, as soon as I got the $10 I knew immediately to buy her some flowers. I pass by flowers in the stands on the street every day and always wish that someone would buy some for me. I wanted to buy this woman something that reminded her that she was a woman, a lovely woman, who deserved something just becuase someone thought of her. It is strange, being winter and all since the flowers would die soon after she received them, so the idea was not very logical, but perhaps that was part of the beauty of it. I wanted to give her something other than food for once that reminded her of who she was. I wanted an extravagent gift.
So I picked out the brightest bunch of roses accross the street from her, hid them in my coat as I backtracked to the place where I get hot chocolate and with hot choclate in one hand and flowers in the other, I crossed the street to where she was. When I got to her, I gave her the hot chocolate first and then explained that I was giving her a strange gift, and that it may not last long but that every day I walk by the flowers and wish that someone would buy some for me, and wondered if she ever felt the same. I told her that the flowers looked just right for her and wished her a Merry Christmas.
She smiled gratefully, a strange smile, and I uncomfortably wondered what use my gift was, whether it was an insult to her if she needed something practical. After all, I had bought on a strange whim.
But while visiting my parents a week or so later I heard a sermon about the wise men's gifts to Jesus. I was reminded that the gold, frankincense, and myrhh may have had some practical value, but were for the most part impractical for a baby. They were simply a way of bestowing something precious on someone to acknowledge the precious quality of the reciever.
The gifts given to Jesus communicated that the wise men saw him as a king. And I hope to explain to this woman, when I return to the city, that she is a princess.
Most mornings on my way to work, I pass a couple (mid 30s/low 40s maybe) camped out on the steps of a church. Often times they are still asleep, huddled underneath a collection of coverings made up of tents, bags, clothing, etc, and sometimes I pass them just as they are packing up their belongings for the day. They have a black dog with them who is normally tied to a rail and a couple of shopping carts filled with miscellaneous items. I often pray for them as I pass and wonder what I can do. A few weeks ago, I handed the man a gift card to McDonalds. I told him it wasn't much but was all I had at the moment and said "May God Bless You." As always, I wished that I could do more, that I could've said more. He was incredibly sweet and appreciative, and I just resolved to keep praying for them.
When we got the $10 bills from church, I simply hoped the right opportunity would just sort of "reveal" itself to me with how I should use it. As silly as it sounds, my idea actually came to me in a dream. In my dream, I was buying some food and gloves/hats for the couple that I often pass on my way to work. When I woke up, I figured it actually wasn't that bad of an idea! So I put together a little care package/bag with some gloves, hats, water bottles, snack and cracker bars, dried fruit, heat packs, and a HFNY resource card. I played the situation over and over again in my head of how I would approach them and what I would say, etc. Today was the day, and I had my little bag ready to go. As I approached the church steps, I saw the dog leashed to a rail and the woman was packing up their belongings; I didn't see the man. I climbed the stairs and told her that I pass them fairly frequently and just wanted to do something for them, and I handed her the bag. She was extremely appreciative and was thanking me over and over, with the dog barking over us :). We wished each other "Happy New Year" and I was quickly on my way. I forgot to tell her about the HFNY resource card, and was also disappointed that I forgot to tell her I was praying for them. I continued to pray for the couple as I got to work and just asked that God would bless them and they would see the resource card and know how to use it if needed. I'd like to continue to serve and help them and would love more prayer on how I could best do this. Thank you, Apostles, for helping us serve this awesome city!
I know a lady in the Bronx who suffers from physical infirmities which prevent her from working. Things are tight financially for her and sometimes she has to walk for miles just to get around. It may not seem like much but I decided to use the $10 to purchase a Metrocard for her.
My parents were in town the week the $10.00 bills were given out. During brunch, we were talking about my aunt and uncle. They have spent their married life living with and caring for my ailing grandmother. We've seen them sacrifice their own dreams and comforts to care for someone who needed them desperately.
Since my granmother passed away 2 years ago this last December, they have struggled financially and barely mantained the home that my aunt has lived in her entire life. It's nothing for them to keep the inside temperature of the house below 60 degrees because the oil bill reaches $500.00 or more a month.
We decided that we would combine our money, add some extra and mail it to her in a Christmas Card as an extra Christmas blessing. Because we wanted to be anonymous, we waited to mail the card from her home town.
We were able to witness her open the envelope and gasp as the cash fell out of the unsigned card. Apart from having noone to thank (which she didn't like very much) she said that the money was coming at a particularly hard time and would be very helpful to her and my uncle in the upcoming month.
Thanks for this little, effective lession in being aware of and helping others in need!
Today, on my way home, I spent my ten dollar bill to buy a hot coffee and meal for Thomas. I usually see him at the subway. He is always very grateful for what I can give him. I told Thomas I wished I could get him something everytime I saw him, but also expressed that I prayed for him everytime I passed by. I'm glad he got that coffee. It was a chilly night. I left him with, "God bless you."
Like many of those who have already written, I prayed for the best way to use my $10. Right after the bills were distributed at church, I thought of all the individuals I passed on my way to work in the Bronx who could benefit from a hot meal or a scarf. I thought - this was going to be easy.
Strangely enough, in the week before leaving for the holidays, I had a hard time finding someone in need. For the first time I had my eyes open and couldn't find anyone to help.
After more prayer, I met a gentleman asking for money outside of a pharmacy while away with a friend. I asked if he was hungry and what he would want - he only wanted a bag of chips. I pressed for more, but that was it. I bought him a few bags which he was so thankful for and said he would share with his friends.
The next night, I had a similar situation with a woman outside of another store asking for money. I again asked if she was hungry and what she would want to eat - she knew exactly what she wanted - chicken, pepsi, and oreos. She again was very thankful.
The best part of the experience was being able to share it with my friend who does not attend church. He was so amazed that the church would trust its members to distribute money to those in need. It was one of the first times I could speak about God's love to my friend in a way he could understand. It also reminded me how much we have and how things as small as a bag of chips or package of oreos can help someone in need.
For some reason it was a good feeling knowing that I had to help someone in need because I received $10.00 at Church. Normally I just help those in need that I come across without even thinking about it. The Parable of the Talents (Matt 25) stuck to my head after leaving Church and I was thinking of a way that I could put the $10.00 to work for the Lords gain. That day through prayer I multiplied the $10.00 by 10 and made a contribution to Hope for New York. The following 2 weeks I did not come across anyone who I thought was in need of a meal. Jan 2nd about an hour after I prayed I see this broken homeless woman about 65 years old. I say hello to her but she does not respond to me. It was sad. I take the $10.00 out of my pocket and offer it to her and she grabed the bill with two hands and places her hands on her chest in gratitude. That night on my way home I came across another broken homeless woman. I aproached her, she did not know what to expect. I gave her $5.00 and in return I got this huge smile.
My $10 bill had been free-floating in my purse for a while...I was waiting to do something really creative with it. Tuesday night I walked out of my apartment with a a "sort-of-Christian" friend that was in town visiting. We were walking to catch a movie at the theatre up the road when I noticed a man on the corner directly across from my door. He was a very clean-cut, much older man who was wearing a hat and a very dejected expression. He had a small sign that said my family is in need. I started crossing the street past him and halfway across, I just felt that I shouldn't have passed him by - he didn't look like a beggar or druggie and I'd certainly never seen him there before. I stopped, turned around and dug out the $10 bill and nervously handed it to him. He was about as surprised as I was and we exchanged Happy New Year/God Bless as I walked away. I thought his expression and gratitude was pretty rewarding in itself. When we were safely across the street, my friend turned to me and asked "what made you want to do that?" and I realized the sweet old guy wasn't the only one God was wanting to impact. I had felt a little guilty about not doing something creative with it - I hadn't planned on just handing someone the money. However, it was really great to see that there was more at work than I thought. I got to share with her about Apostles and the motivation behind the $10 bill mission...it was great to get to show her that Christ is alive and well in New York City.
We had a couple of good experiences with our $10 bills. First a man asked us for subway fare outside a Pick a Bagel. We gave him $2, and offered to throw in some food. We were impressed when the man only asked for Orange Juice.
That night, a woman asked for money for lodging because she'd been evicted. We gave her some money, which she happily accepted. We then offered to throw in a slice of pizza, which brought her to tears. We were amazed that a $2 pizza meant so much more to her than $5 cash.
In between, we gave $10 to a person who was singing in the subway. This didn't feel like a significant event to him, and didn't give us a feeling that we'd donated to a worthy cause. This provided an interesting contrast with our other disbursements.
Overall this was a valuable experience for us, and has already influenced the way we give charity beyond the $10 bills.
The week after I received the $10 bill, I kept it in my pocket constantly. I looked and looked for someone to give it to, but literally couldn't find a single needy person. I wondered where they'd all gone. Did they all retreat to someplace warm to hide from the extreme cold? Was I not looking in the right places? That week came and went and the next week arrived, and still no needy people. I began to wonder if God was playing a joke on me. Maybe I was the needy person? But the bill still sat there, ready to spring out of my ever changing pockets at a moment's notice.
I went home for Christmas, still clutching my ten dollar bill, frustrated that I couldn't find any needy people. But somewhere in the Christmas shuffle, I lost my ten dollar bill. It may have fallen out of my pocket, or it may have accidentally mingled with my other ten dollar bills and gone for Starbucks or shampoo. Wherever it went, it was no longer in my pocket. So when I arrived back in New York, I was bill-less but on the hunt for someone to give something to.
Finally, last week, I was munching on a pretzel outside the Met, when I noticed a guy walking around asking people for quarters. I had seven dollars in my wallet, and by golly, I was going to give it to him if I had to run up and force him to take it. I locked on and waited for eye contact. There was no way he was escaping me! He uttered the fateful words, "Do you have a quarter?" Six dollars and two HFNY cards later, he was the happy if somewhat bewildered owner of one jumbo hot dog and a bottle of Pepsi, plus one bonus dollar for later.
I got to talk to him while we were waiting in line, and part of me wondered if that was more important to him than the food...just to be treated like a human being rather than a drain on society or a potential menace. I wondered if he might be more afraid of me than I was of him!
He gratefully received his lunch, and disappeared down the street, leaving me with the knowledge that I now have not just one ten dollar bill to keep up with, but three one dollar bills to go! Maybe I should just stick a new ten in my pocket instead.
I have never been to you church. I have only visited NYC once...several years ago. I have a friend that attends Apostles Church and read about the $10 love project on her blog. We have been talking about what it means to serve at my own church in Houston,TX so I wanted to read the stories of how others were serving in a city so far away. All I can say is "Glory to God!" Reading these stories has been such a blessing. Some of you may not feel that what you did was a big deal, but I bet even the people that didn't express gratitude, were greatly impacted by the love that you showed them. I love the story about the flowers! And someone mentioned that the person they served probably enjoyed being treated like a human more than the money. I think that is probably true.
Thank you for being faithful to serve. Thank you for sharing your stories. You not only served NYC, but you have encouraged me, a sister in Houston.
There's and old saying about how having cash on hand burns a hole in your pocket. That's how I felt. It was almost a week after returning to NYC from Christmas vacation that I was able to use the $10. I think it was a natural reaction to this challenge to want to do something really great and heartwarming, but as we've all learned, sometimes it's just the acknowledgement, the recognition, the gift of flowers or food gift cards that makes the difference. Coming home one Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were "greeted" on the corner by a man asking for money to get some food. I immediately knew this was my chance. I told him I'd be more than happy to take him in the deli right there and buy him something. His name was Bobby and he was excited, even asked me how much I had that he could use. He started to order tuna sandwiches, then switched to ham sandwiches, but realized 3 ham sandwiches would be more than the amount of cash that I had on me. He finally settled on 3 slices of pizza, and a 18 oz. soda. As we all left, I prayed that it filled him, and that he gained sustanance from what the Lord provided.
I too was waiting for the perfect opportunity to share my $10 bill. I thought of the "usuals" I see on my typical route through the neighborhood. For weeks my "usuals" weren't around, and once or twice I was either too busy or didn't want to wake them. So on I went making excuses, waiting for the perfect opportunity, for the perfect idea of what to share...until yesterday. I was absentmindedly walking down the street when out of the corner of my eye I notice an old man asking a person a question and being blown off. It took me a couple of steps for my subconscious to realize that the man may be in need, as he didn't look like the typical homeless person. He was cleanly dressed and shaved. He could have been one of my grandpa's friends that meet daily at the local coffee shop. I backed up and witnessed two others ignore him as he sought them out. I caught his attention and asked if I could help him with something. He asked for a quarter. I asked what he needed the quarter for (thinking maybe he just needed meter money). As he lowered his head and started to tell me how he has a wife at home, etc. I cut him off. I would have loved to hear more of his life but I realized that he thought I was judging him, possibly even about to chastise him for bothering people on the street. I told him I didn't have a quarter but I wondered if a $10 bill would be enough. He looked up in shock, with such pain but gratefulness in his eyes. We exchanged several God bless yous and I continued down the street. A block away I stopped to adjust my coat and I turned back to see how the man was now fairing. To my amazement he was still looking my way with a smile of disbelief on his face. I don't think he was use to begging and I am certainly not as use to giving as I should be. It was a good lesson for us both.
It was quite obvious that this $10 made a big impact for this man. It made a big impact on me as well. I will never forget the look in his eyes. Nor will I forget the impact on my heart. It is indeed a greater gift to give than to receive.
When we first received our $10, I thought I would have an easy time finding a way to spend it, but I can identify with the other comments about how hard it can be to find someone in need when you're actually trying. I have to admit that there were some occasions that I would see someone I could have helped but would walk by instead and justify my inaction with thoughts about the hurry I was in, or how it was late and I was a woman walking alone. On other occasions (surprisingly more than one), I would finally work up the courage to offer to buy someone a meal, only to be turned down by their own excuses about not wanting to leave the subway (or wait for me to bring something back) or about how they didn't need anything to eat but would take cash for later (which I never felt right doing). Even a couple of walks through parks for the sole purpose of finding homeless people met with no success.
My string of failed attempts (and failures to attempt) to spend my $10 made me feel a little guilty that I had made it to February with the same bill in my pocket, so I felt a bit of a rush Saturday morning when I finally got my chance to spend it. I was walking down the sidewalk as it was just beginning to rain, and I saw an elderly woman in a wheelchair shaking a cup of change. I stopped to ask her if she had had anything to eat that morning, and she said she hadn't yet, so I offered to get her something at the bakery across the street. She said that she would appreciate that very much and, in response to my inquiry about coffee, added that she would love some with cream and sugar. While trying to figure out how much I could order off of the bakery's menu, I was delighted to find that tax was included in the prices and that a breakfast bagel sandwich with double eggs and ham, a fruit salad, a large coffee (with cream and sugar), and a bottle of water could be had for exactly $10. Back across the street, the bag of food was received with a big smile and a comment about how nice the water (which I had grabbed as an afterthought) would be later.
I didn't hear the woman's story, or even her name, but I trust that God had her in mind in those times that I was frustrated with my inability to spend my $10. And I think He had me in mind as well, teaching me to be more attentive and intentional, and less fearful, in seeking out the less fortunate that He places in my path.
I am a missionary in South Africa, and will God Willing, be visiting the Apostle Church while in NY from the 6th to the 14th of May 08. With this visit in mind, I had a look at the church website and noticed the $10 project. Brilliant!
If the question was asked 'What will you do?'... then one of the answers must be, 'What ever you did has now influenced the Gospel being spread in Africa'.
This story has really inspired me. I was in NYC for my first time on Easter, so I brought along my $10 to give. My first day to experience the subway system of NYC was an adventure. While on the subway I noticed a older asian women with all her belongings with her. She was dressed in rags had old bandages on her legs and covered with whitewash from not having a bath anytime recent. She was hunched over trying to get some sleep in the warmth of the subway train. I gained her attention and handed her $6.00, she looked up at me confused and I said this is for you God Bless. I thought I would not find anybody more needy than her. Riding the subway train again later in my stay I saw a older man on the train in the same condition trying to stay warm, shoes split out on the sides, I gained his attention and gave him the remaining $4 with a God Bless.
Neither of these people asked for the money I just saw the need. I hope that the money given at the Easter service will be enough to help some of the others.
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