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I almost hate leaving the office some nights. But it’s not because of work… it’s what I encounter when I leave our office. Last night, while I was making my to our parking lot, a (homeless?) man approached me. He said he was really hungry, and needed some money to eat. Two things ran through my mind at this moment, and the first was “Yeah, Right.” (He was dressed fairly well for someone without money.) The second was, “I don’t have any money and I’m wearing my iPod in plain sight… is this guy going to try to attack me?” After a brief pause, I told him I didn’t have any money (which is true… I never carry cash on me) and walked away. Thankfully, nothing happened.

If I were in the same position, would I be humble enough to ask for help?

I can’t help but think of how uncomfortable the whole exchange was, though. For me, there was discomfort in the fact that I immediately started doubting whether this guy was genuinely in need, and that my thoughts nearly immediately turned to predicting my own bodily harm if I didn’t give him anything. Fortunately, the latter didn’t happen. For him, I could imagine that if he truly was in need how uncomfortable it must have been for him to ask for help. If I were in the same position, would I be humble enough to ask for help?

Mark 5:38-42: 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (ESV)

From the passages above the Bible tells us: “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” I keep trying to tell myself that… But it’s difficult given how the world is. You never know if someone is truly in need of help. You never know if the money you give someone will be used for food, or will it be squandered on drugs, alcohol… You just never know. I suppose that’s the point though: it’s not for me/us to understand. Hopefully, I’ll be able to handle the situation differently if I’m approached again.

What are your thoughts on “panhandling”? Do you give to strangers that ask for money?

Rolling Stone’s review of Switchfoot’s new album contains this priceless jewel: Yes, Switchfoot’s members are Christians, and yes, there are lyrics on Nothing Is Sound that refer to the Lord, penitence and “the meaning of existence.” Even if you’re the sort who’s cynical about that kind of thing, the San Diego band offers enough in the way of high-voltage buzz-saw riffs and irresistible melodic hooks to make up for it on this considerably better-than-average follow-up to the group’s multiplatinum major-label 2003 debut. (Hat tip: ThinkChristian.net)

It’s interesting to see Switchfoot discussed like this… because the band appealed to me a lot before I even knew they were Christians. Funny thing is… I would hear their music being played on some of the local rock stations here in Augusta, and I never knew who they were or the name of the songs, or anything… but I love the lyrics, and love the sound… Flash forward to about a month and a half ago… I was changing channels and heard “Meant to Live” being played during the Christian program that was on TV… and the spark hit…

Meant to Live by Switchfoot

Fumbling his confidence

And wondering why the world has passed him by

Hoping that he’s bid for more than arguments

And failed attempts to fly, fly

 

[Chorus]

We were meant to live for so much more

Have we lost ourselves?

Somewhere we live inside

Somewhere we live inside

We were meant to live for so much more

Have we lost ourselves?

Somewhere we live inside

 

Dreaming about Providence

And whether mice or men have second tries

Maybe we’ve been livin with our eyes half openMaybe we’re bent and broken, broken

 

[Chorus]

 

We want more than this world’s got to offer

We want more than this world’s got to offer

We want more than the wars of our fathers

And everything inside screams for second life, yeah

 

We were meant to live for so much more

Have we lost ourselves?

We were meant to live for so much more

Have we lost ourselves?

We were meant to live for so much more

Have we lost ourselves?

We were meant to live

We were meant to live

This song… that I assumed was secular, was about so much more… Once I started to really listen to the music, it touched my soul more and more. God works everywhere…through everything.I’m glad Switchfoot’s new album has been well-received by the mainstream. I’ve really enjoyed “Nothing is Sound” so far, and encourage you to check it out if you have not yet done so…