Dear LPG,   

I hope that I am one of those people who takes the time to give to the poor when I see them, although I know many people who will send money via email or in an envelope for a recognised charity or church while thinking twice about those who ask for money in the streets.   

I have friends who tell me that these are the times of organised begging and that teams of people are often working together in such a venture when we see them outside supermarkets.   I suppose that there is some truth in that, and others bring up the question of what they really do with the money once collected, even if begging is their only option.    

Many look the part and let their appearance do the talking, and there are also the mothers who have a young one with them.  Many look as if they dont actually speak English although we all suspect them of putting on a bit of an act.  There are also the ‘mumblers’ who approach but say something inaudible in their quest to get us to part with our money, and the ones that we can understand who offer the stories which pull on the heartstrings and which are hard to ignore.   


I try to remember that quote from the bible, ‘There but for the grace of God go I" which reminds me that one’s circumstances can change so quickly that when we encounter anyone in need we should remember that fortunes could be reversed with a days’ notice.    


Another issue is that there is usually very little actual money in ones change purse these days as less people take cash anywhere which, for those with misgivings about what the money will be spent on, can be an arguably positive thing ….   


One-day last week I went out.  I still drive and found myself at the petrol station.  There was a young man walking around the forecourt, talking to people. He asked me if I had ‘a pound for a drink’.   I did not and I told him so at which point he turned his attention to another car driver as he pulled up.  I went to the garage checkout to pay for my petrol and he was at the door.  As I passed him I told him that, while I had my card out, I would be happy to buy him any non-alcoholic drink he would care to choose, but he declined the drink that he originally asked for.  I have to admit that having my offer of help turned down in that way got me thinking. 

I then went down the road a little to the Catford Island shopping centre and, as I got to the entrance of Lidl’s another man stopped me.  He told me an elaborate story about the fact that he had some rice at home but needed to buy a little protein to put with it.   I asked what sort of protein and he suggested a little beef.  I told him that I could not afford beef for myself let alone him and he then said that some fish might be helpful.  I only needed one loaf of bread in the shop but I passed the tinned fish isle, I picked up a couple of tins of Mackerel.  He was still at the door of the shop as I left and I offered him the two tins of mackerel. He told me that they would not help him as he was expecting a nice bit of chilled fish and he refused the tins.   

I left the shop feeling somewhat rejected. I am not the richest person in the world myself but to have two offers of help rejected on one day left me feeling that beggars can be choosers these days… 

MT. Lewisham