When push comes to shove.

Monday, July 5, 2010:

 Tonight has challenged me unexpectedly, and I think I need a continuation of my last post: all are invited to come and feast in the Kingdom of God.

I’ve been really struggling with what to do with begging.  The Roma (Gypsy) population in Eastern Europe is totally discriminated against.  It’s horrible.  As a result, they do constitute the majority (if not all) of the people I’ve seen begging here.  It’s especially common for them to send their children out to follow you around and beg for money: dirty, bedraggled kids, who stand there with hands outstretched muttering, “Please… please, money,” and looking utterly pathetic.  I just want to hug them and talk to them, but I don’t know the language.  I don’t give them money.  It tears at me.

On the way to Sarajevo from Banja Luka we stopped at the Bosnian equivalent of a tourist trap—this little town with a ton of food vendors, etc., right by this lovely little stream.  Needless to say, our group of Americans quickly attracted a couple little kids, who approached me with hands outstretched and the now-familiar question.  One girl asked, “What’s your name?” and I responded and asked for hers.  Esmerelda, she said.  I saw her again and again in the 30 minutes we were there.  I never gave her anything.  Two little boys came up to us as we were getting ice cream and asked for money—Melanie and I let them choose a flavor and bought them ice cream cones instead.  But still.  I didn’t really give them anything.

Every time!  I cannot meet a person begging and not be torn apart inside—and yet I ignore them every time!  Of course, I rationalize and wrestle; I know all the reasons not to give monetary handouts.  I know it’s not an effective long-term solution.  I know it sometimes just allows child abuse.  I mean, I remember one day in Cambodia actually seeing the kids run from our bus back to their dads, who were just lounging in the shade watching and angrily greeted their kids’ empty hands.  I was furious at that moment.  But I also remember, in Cambodia, walking past three beggars as we left the killing fields, and then getting on our shiny tourist bus and driving away from two examples of humanity in need.  Only one of those examples was already dead.

But even though I know the reasons not to just hand people money, I can’t help but read my Bible and feel like when Jesus says things like what he says in Luke 6:27-38 (go look it up, right now, seriously), he means it. 

So what does that mean for the Roma woman who tried to rob me tonight?  (A group of us were walking back to the hostel when suddenly I felt something, so I turned around and saw two women right behind me; I saw one of them whip her hand out of my backpack, leaving the pocket dangling wide open.  I had only put pens in that pocket, but still, I was rattled.)  I just zipped my bag up, grabbed on to it, and walked on.  I should have stopped.  I should have said I loved her.

All are invited to feast in the Kingdom of God.  Including those of us, like me, who are too wrapped up in our own security to love people who desperately need it.

Luke 6:27-38

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.  If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even ‘sinners’ do that.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you?  Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”