Dollars and Sense

During my lunch break at work yesterday I wrote about half of my Quick Takes.   I started editing them this morning and, when I went to undo a change I made, Blogger ate the post, blanked everything out, and then auto-saved it.   Yikes!   I was a bit upset.

But then, I thought about how my morning went and what I had seen while running errands and thought perhaps I am supposed to be writing about something else.  The Quick Takes Sand Pail Update can wait until next week.


I received an email yesterday from one of my favorite garden centers.  On Saturday only, I could get five herbs for free with the enclosed coupon.  I’m all about free and I also had a five dollar off coupon so I decided to take a drive and check out what they had.   Though most of the herbs were fairly picked over I came away with three new ones and a new cone flower that cost me only three dollars after the discount. 

I needed to pick a few things from the grocery store so I took a slightly different route home.  As I drove down the road I passed a barn I have seen several times before.  The people that live there operate a small business selling farm produce, meat, and landscape services.  None of that is easy work, but it seems to me they are proud of what they do and are making a go of it.

I got my groceries and went out a different exit than I had entered. Sitting near the road was a man holding a sign – homeless – please help.   He was curled up, almost in a ball, with his head buried in his lap. 

Often on my way to and from work I see similar sights.  People with signs frequent the side of the road looking for money.  Most of the time they look well fed, decently clothed and just out and out bored.  There was something about this man that was different. 

I drove down the road and couldn’t get him out of my mind.  I turned around and headed back to him. As I drove back, I saw the local “political commentator’s” latest rant.  This man has a sign in his front yard that he posts frequently changing, often scathing, and usually obtuse views on current events and politics.  I found today’s interesting given the last couple of things I had just seen.

Unfortunately, I took a really lousy picture. What the sign says is Donald Trump is already increasing employment – new jobs for comedians.

I spoke with the man at sitting at the street.  I don't think I have ever seen such despair.  He was gaunt and dirty.  I could see the tear streaks on his face.  I can't continue to live like this, he told me.  He was homeless and needed to get his car repaired and gassed up. 

I gave him what I could.  But it's not enough.  It's never enough. 

I wonder if the political commentator knew of this man sitting just a half mile from his house.  Since he is so willing to mock Donald Trump's ability to create jobs, I imagine he might have a better plan.  No? 

I'm not sure I have a point to all this.  I am just trying to figure out what it means and how I live out my responsibility in caring and helping for others in need.  It's easy to mock what others are doing or not doing, but how do we help?  How do we do our share?

I'm just trying to make sense of it all.


AMDG