Her clothes were tattered and stained, but not dirty. The auburn hair sticking out of her woolen cap was frizzy and wild.
She wanted to know if we’d spend $2.50 for one of her candles.
“I’m out of work and need to care for my two children," the woman explained, holding an aluminum tray stacked with an assortment of candles she had made.
Late for the Theatre, we smiled politely as we continued to walk on by.
“ Please , they’re scented," she pleaded.
“Not today," one of the members in our group halfheartedly answered back. Since I didn’t know how to refuse this woman, I am ashamed to admit that I was relieved by this curt response.
Pacing along with the crowd, I quickly turned back and glanced towards the woman. As I caught sight of her desperate demeanor, I felt her despair, but, recalling our plans, I instantly forgot.
The “silence" between us was deafening until one of us finally spoke.
“You know, you’d go broke if you helped out everyone," I offered with an awkward laugh, already feeling so guilty I wanted to throw up.
“But we are supposed to help our neighbor…" I added with useless guilt compounding useless guilt.
“Well, who IS our neighbor?" one of the others asked rhetorically, doing a very good job imitating my guilt.
“Anyone. Everyone." someone volunteered.
“Aw, she could have been lying. I bet she was! How do we know that money is for her kids? How do we know she has any kids ," rationalized another.
“As Christians, we are supposed to help those in need and what they do with our help is between them and God."
Guilt quickly permeated the air. Somehow, the Theatre was no longer important.
“We blew it," I said, hoping someone would convince me otherwise.
“We probably did," one of the others said, helping me not at all.
“Maybe we should go back to her," someone suggested.
“She could be us; she could be anyone," someone said.
“Guilt doesn’t help; what’s done is done," I heard someone say.
“We could have all managed to give her the lousy $2.50! We didn’t even have to take a candle. We should have just given her the money," another said.
“No, no, there must be a reason that we all decided to walk on by," I desperately said. If truth be known, my reason had been completely selfish; I didn’t want to be late for the show.
Someone said that he’d been taken advantage of so many times. Someone else said she had been too. Everyone had been, but what difference did that make, another asked? What if this woman really needed help?
We could have helped and didn’t, that is all there was to it.
We couldn’t fix it. Not this time.
As we soberly walked into the Theatre, I silently and repentantly prayed the following:
Make a new heart in me, My God! Create it out of Your Pureness! (2 Cor. 5:17) Make my heart brand new so that it is totally pure and without anything bad. Dear God, make a new and faithful spirit inside of me. Give me Your Holy Spirit that I may be faithful to You in all things!! (John 3:1-21) Have my heart stick to You no matter what comes my way!!
Dear Lord, please forgive us and help this woman... and, please, God, give us another chance .
Judi Lynn Lake has kept up with leading edge business trends throughout her varied and successful career. She had already had her ‘15 minutes of fame’ over and over again before starting her family. Judi and her family now reside in South Carolina but, having been born and raised on Long Island, NY, it is clearly evident that she will always be a "New Yorker." Today, she successfully runs her own advertising agency which handles everything from logos, branding and package design while she continues to work closely with self-published authors from design to promotion.
» left by Anonymous (1 year 14 days ago.)
Sadly, I think we have all been there. Thanks for your honesty. This sure makes you think. Respond to this comment
» left by Judi Lake(2,665) Judi Lake (363 days 13 hours ago.)
Yes, we've all been there which I guess proves our humaness... thanks for your comments! Respond to this comment
» left by Joel Hendon(4,797) Joel Hendon (1 year 7 days ago.)
Judi you did an excellent job of telling how we all let moments of selfishness cause us to walk away from someone in need. My heart aches when I think I have done such, BUT, there is another side of the story. Very, very seldom is it necessary for someone to be a panhandler anymore. There are governmental agencies and charitable organizations that will step in and handle most cases if only someone will ask for it.
Not too long ago, my wife and I got into our car in a parking lot and as I was about to start, a lady knocked on my window. Decent looking, clean, etc. and I lowered the window. She said that she worked at a town about 12 miles away and was on her way home to another town about 10 or so miles away but her gasoline wasn't going to make it and she hadn no money with her. It turns out that her grown son had the car all day and came to get her with it nearly empty and he couldn't get out of the car because he hadn't worn his shoes. I did not believe the tale but I told her to pull the car into the adjacent service station and I would put $5.00 worth of gas in it to bring her home. They did and I did, but they showed little appreciation and as I drove away, they drove back into the Walmart parking lot. Respond to this comment
» left by Judi Lake(2,665) Judi Lake (363 days 13 hours ago.)
You are correct, Joel but there's always that "exception" - Having been raised with a huge family, I remember hearing tales from my grandmother and great aunts about how everyone helped everyone during the depression and that always impressed me. Today, people will literally walk over a wounded person without looking back. I am not very good with discerning cons from legit but I hope that my heart always remains open to help people and leave the rest to God. Thanks so much for commenting! Respond to this comment
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(6,658) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (1 year 6 days ago.)
Well Judi it does happen to us all. Yet, we must remember we all entertain angels at times. As this season comes to mind I remember Ebeneezer Schrooge in Dickens a Christmas Carol. I suspect many of us walk by angels each and every day in varied ways and forms. I am reminded of my daugther who is having her own finacial trials doing exactly the same.She had passed a person at a light asking for help. Now many are just a scam and God knows that but some are in trouble from varied sources. She got home and felt guilty and then got a few dollars out of the little she had left and drove back and gave it to the lady. Now the lady could have been gone already but the intent was she thought about it, got convicted and tried to resolve not to do it anymore. As for that person only God knew her true motive and need. My daugther left it to God to decide. Great article for us all, best wishes RTM Respond to this comment
» left by Judi Lake(2,665) Judi Lake (363 days 12 hours ago.)
"Now the lady could have been gone already but the intent was she thought about it, got convicted and tried to resolve not to do it anymore. As for that person only God knew her true motive and need. My daugther left it to God to decide...." That's it in a nutshell, Robert -- Your daughter sounds like a good soul who you must be very proud of -- My mantra is, "there but for the Grace of God could be I" -- so what else can we do? Thanks for your comments, Mr. Robert! Respond to this comment
» left by susan thom from nj (1 year 6 days ago.)
hi judi,
what a good story. well written, and so thought provoking.
i live in the country, and although i know there are people in need, we don't see them. i tend to then forget their reality. thanks for reminding me.
everyone who reads this article, will pray. what a wonderful thing, especially for those who otherwise wouldn't have.
my best,
sue Respond to this comment
» left by Judi Lake(2,665) Judi Lake (363 days 12 hours ago.)
Sue, your comments touched me deeply; you have such a genuine soul that I am pleased to know. Thanks for adding your 2 cents! Respond to this comment
» left by Judi Lake(2,665) Judi Lake (363 days 12 hours ago.)
Thanks Steve, but I still cringe at my selfishness -- I pray that I am never too busy or distracted not to notice those around me; we are in a world where "no man is an island." Thanks for commenting and hope you are well! Respond to this comment
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