Monday, April 18, 2005
i encountered a really thought-provoking situation today. was walking from church to tampines int. with fellow churchmates when a stranger came up to us and asked for money to take a cab as he had a sister in hospital and he had no cash on him. i asked him where he lived(simei)and when i asked why he was here, he said he was visiting a friend. interrogated him further, asking him to call the hospital and confirm his sister is there. but my friends had already taken out some money and gave it to him, and told him "God bless you". (note: i have never done such a thing before as to really ask provoking questions to a stranger. usually when strangers come up to me i'll just give an embarrassed smile and sometimes help them out.) well i was riled. before even confirming that what the man said was true the money was handed to him. and what for even lie? we would definitely still have compassion if he had simply said he had no money for food and drink and was homeless so could we spare some money for him. my friend said that it's better to give him money now than deprive him of it such that the next day he'll rob/steal. another said once the money was handed over it would be his and he'd be free to do what he wanted with it. and for me? suddenly at that point in time i just felt that we should've heard him out first, or even try to make him tell the real reason why he wanted money. the man stank(i'm sorry but he did), and he had a real sob story. if his sister was in hospital he wouldn't have walked so slowly and kept on looking back at us. and then i started to think, does it mean that if since i didn't contribute to helping him was i a "bad christian"? like not following God's example, showing His love, blah blah. felt bloody lousy. but i really just wanted to be convinced coz you can't be taken in so easily in the real world! at least give up your money for a good cause. i'm not against my friends' views; i know this kinda thing is really a grey area. and just one line keeps repeating: what would Jesus do? i don't have a definite answer. i don't know at all.
illuminated. 12:24 AM
izzabelle/izzy/bel.