01 Nov 05 113085550208625509

What difference does it make if he only want the money to buy beer?

Whenever we happen to be in Baltimore we try to stop at the Lexington Market. The Lexington Market is an indoor world bazaar, ethnic food court. It is also in the heart of downtown.

Driving around in the downtown portion of a major city is an experience each of us should endure at least once. I know, I know “he who loveth stooges” does it almost every day. The observation I will make today has nothing to do with streets, traffic, junkies or hookers. The observation I will make today concerns the billboards.

The billboards you see in a downtown urban area are a sight unto themselves. I‚Äôm not certain I have ever seen these products and services being offered in other parts of town. The billboards and signs advertised paternity tests — it had a catchy slogan ‚Äúfrom here to paternity‚Äù — the cost of supporting a child per month as compared to the allowance of a teenager and other such messages targeted towards babies having babies. I‚Äôm thinking the emphasis on safe sex has missed the mark. Anyway, back to the market.

The Lexington Market has a flavor and aroma all its own. Partly because of the food and partly because of the social setting. As we discussed, while exiting the parking lot, it’s healthy to place yourself in situations every once in a while where you are the minority. We decided to hit a few places, sampling the wares. We told the kids this was going to be our observance of Halloween this year. We were going to plunder the Egyptians in the food court instead of door to door.

We sampled some fried seafood delicacies. We purchased a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and made our way to a table. The sandwich turned out to be so good I went back to purchase another. Either that or take food away from the kids. As I purchased my sandwich and turned to walk away a man approached me and began his speech about being hungry and wanting some money to buy some chicken from a chicken place across the way.

Editors note: About two or three years ago I was in Lexington Market and the same thing happened. The same request, for chicken, at the same place. They must have really good chicken.

I had to take a few steps back. Not from deja vu or anything - because the vapors of barley and hops were wafting aggressively from him. I carefully thought about the situation and said, “I’d be happy to go over there with you and buy you some chicken.” He responded by giving me his name and promising he wasn’t going to lie to me – that in fact he really only needing thirty-five cents for bus fare to make it to the shelter tonight.

I had just paid $4.50 for a great sandwich (with fries), had paid with a five spot and thus had fifty cents in my hand. I paused, for what seemed like “a paternity” and mulled my options. My suspicion was that he was collecting enough money to buy another beer. I ultimately decided so what? Why was I going to be the judge of how he spent his money? I had fifty cents in my hand and was debating the saneness of giving them to this man. I said “ok, how about fifty cents?” He smiled, said thank you, took the money and was gone.

Let me circle back to what I believe is a salient point. The point, in my opinion, was not what he was going to do with the money. The point was what was I going to do with the money. I’ve certainly spent money on things I shouldn’t have. My purchase of a 2nd Philly Cheese Steak sandwich could hardly be construed as the healthy thing to do with my money. I know there are exceptions. I know even I have limits. I believe sometimes the opportunities to help others are not so much to help someone else as they are to help us not be selfish and stingy and judgmental.

AND NOW PAGE 2 . . .

We left the Market and headed toward our vehicle with a bag full of cookies from a really good bakery. We were approached by a different man who asked if we had any spare change. I said, “how about I give you a cookie instead?” He declined, thought about it for a second and then said, “Sure, I’ll take a cookie.” I gave him a cookie. He smiled, said “thank you” and walked away.