Back in November, I wrote about a beggar who would roam our parish’s parking lot and then would actually enter our building to beg for money. I was finally about to keep him away for good by physically chasing him off church property. He never came back. Until today that is.
Sure enough, he walked in, looking and smelling homeless. He went towards the box where offerings are placed. He stood in front of it. As an usher, I watched him intently so as to catch him in the act of stealing right in front of everyone. But then something weird happened. He slowly took a wallet out of the back of his filthy jeans.
He took out a bill. I couldn’t see which one, but he dropped it in the box, nodded and walked out without saying a word to anyone. Surely he he saw me watching him like a hawk. He didn’t acknowledge anyone and left without incident. I was absolutely shocked that he put money in rather than taking money out.
Maybe, just maybe, I was wrong about him. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so quick to judge people.
Nah, I’ll never stop!