The Rich Poor Man
Something happened at the grocery store today that caught my attention and made me think.
As I got in line to pay for my groceries, I found myself standing behind two patrons from very different worlds. More then likely they came into the store with very different ideas of what they would purchase, very different economic means of doing so, and very different places they would return to after their shopping was complete.
The man directly in front of me was obviously homeless, probably an alcoholic and/or drug attic, and possibly mentally ill in some way. He was dressed in very worn and tattered clothes, and probably hadn’t bathed in months. He had one bottle of cheap wine and two beers in his basket to purchase.
The lady in front of him was a very elegantly dressed upper-class French woman. She probably had over $150 worth of items to purchase.
While the cashier was scanning her many items I watched her continually stare at the homeless man behind her. It seemed as though she was scared of becoming dirty or somehow infected with something herself, simply by being in close proximity with this homeless man. I could only imagine what awful thoughts must have been going through her mind.
After all of her items had been scanned she handed her credit card to the cashier, only for it to be rejected. She did not have enough cash to pay for the items and so she asked the cashier to try her credit card again. The cashier called the manager who took the card into his office to possibly (my assumption) call the credit card company to check on the cards status.
While this was happening the cashier went ahead and scanned the homeless mans bottle of cheap wine and his two beers. He paid for it with the change that he had in his hand and left.
The elegantly dressed upper-class French woman watched this man leave the store and mumbled something as he left. A look of relief came across her face, for what I assume was the fact that she no longer had to be standing so close to an unclean person. Seconds later the store manager returned to let her know that he could not accept her credit card. The very elegantly dressed woman left the store with nothing.
It was then that I began to think…
How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, but how simple it is for the poor to walk through the pearly gates.
How difficult it is for the saint who considers himself or herself to be a decent and Godly person to acknowledge his or her very real need for God’s grace and guidance in his or her life, but how very simple it is for the broken-down, beaten up and downtrodden sinner to cling to God, for he or she knows no other way.
Where does God dwell? Who is He near? In what types of people and what sorts of places will we find God if we are to truly search?
I tend to believe that He is often times found in the people and places in which we see in passing, but then very quickly turn a blind eye towards.
I noticed the homeless man for the first time when he was standing at the other end of the aisle I was on, in front of the alcohol, counting his change.
I gave him a glance, turned, and walked the other way…
Matthew Pascal
As I got in line to pay for my groceries, I found myself standing behind two patrons from very different worlds. More then likely they came into the store with very different ideas of what they would purchase, very different economic means of doing so, and very different places they would return to after their shopping was complete.
The man directly in front of me was obviously homeless, probably an alcoholic and/or drug attic, and possibly mentally ill in some way. He was dressed in very worn and tattered clothes, and probably hadn’t bathed in months. He had one bottle of cheap wine and two beers in his basket to purchase.
The lady in front of him was a very elegantly dressed upper-class French woman. She probably had over $150 worth of items to purchase.
While the cashier was scanning her many items I watched her continually stare at the homeless man behind her. It seemed as though she was scared of becoming dirty or somehow infected with something herself, simply by being in close proximity with this homeless man. I could only imagine what awful thoughts must have been going through her mind.
After all of her items had been scanned she handed her credit card to the cashier, only for it to be rejected. She did not have enough cash to pay for the items and so she asked the cashier to try her credit card again. The cashier called the manager who took the card into his office to possibly (my assumption) call the credit card company to check on the cards status.
While this was happening the cashier went ahead and scanned the homeless mans bottle of cheap wine and his two beers. He paid for it with the change that he had in his hand and left.
The elegantly dressed upper-class French woman watched this man leave the store and mumbled something as he left. A look of relief came across her face, for what I assume was the fact that she no longer had to be standing so close to an unclean person. Seconds later the store manager returned to let her know that he could not accept her credit card. The very elegantly dressed woman left the store with nothing.
It was then that I began to think…
How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, but how simple it is for the poor to walk through the pearly gates.
How difficult it is for the saint who considers himself or herself to be a decent and Godly person to acknowledge his or her very real need for God’s grace and guidance in his or her life, but how very simple it is for the broken-down, beaten up and downtrodden sinner to cling to God, for he or she knows no other way.
Where does God dwell? Who is He near? In what types of people and what sorts of places will we find God if we are to truly search?
I tend to believe that He is often times found in the people and places in which we see in passing, but then very quickly turn a blind eye towards.
I noticed the homeless man for the first time when he was standing at the other end of the aisle I was on, in front of the alcohol, counting his change.
I gave him a glance, turned, and walked the other way…
Matthew Pascal
posted by Matthew Pascal @ 2:47 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Nice parable Pascal
I'm with you, friend--in all the observations, feelings, realizations and questions you just raised. After being "homeless," and unemployed this last month, I realized how close many of us are to being homeless, sometimes only a few paychecks away. Do you think it's fear? That we could be like that man given a few life changes? Or that we are uncomfortable with his reminding us something--since he is as he is, and we are sometimes not as we are... particularly shown by the circumstance of the French woman here? Keep it coming! - JR in Boston
Jesus said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matt. 7:1-2
Nice to find you out here, Pascal!
Good to see you also Steve:-)
Hi. I just finished reading all of your blog entries and am deeply moved by your sincerity. You are a talented writer as well. Do continue writing about your experiences in service so i can continue learning and reading. During a time when I seem so easily disheartened by the falseness of christians and people in general, I appreciate your humility and honesty. I too long for community. Ironically, i'm surrounded by Christians.
Lauren Mahoney
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