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I was in disbelief for what my eyes took in. Has it really com to this. Have we fallen so far down the economic funnel that this is to be the norm?
Exiting the highway after running errands, I found a familiar sight at the end of the off ramp at the stop light. There was a man standing on the corner, honestly looking uncomfortable, ashamed, and out of place, antsy. His hair was slicked back but not in a greasy way. His clothes actually unwrinkled, shirt tucked in; he was wearing a belt. Other than standing where people looking for a little help sometimes are, the only other familiarity he held was a cardboard sign. This was the first time I’d seen this message:
Sales Are Down
Single Dad
Everything Helps
Obviously there’s the possibility that this was a “regular” taking advantage of what weighs on society’s hearts and minds right now. But the other very real possibility was that this truly was a parent who didn’t have any choice but to take any spare time he had (maybe his lunch hour since it was that time of day) and beg. On a corner. To feed his family. Swallowing his pride. Putting himself there for all to see. To get some help.
He certainly looked uncomfortable enough; sad enough. Maybe this was the real deal. Maybe it wasn’t. Either way, it speaks to the realities of our economy. It speaks to the very real fact that many people are down to their last straw, destitute, feeling alone, feeling hopeless. It speaks to the fact that at some point any one of us, all of us, might find ourselves having to consider the possibility that the only thing we can do to feed ourselves and our families, to keep a roof over our children’s heads, is to stand on the corner of an off ramp with our shirts tucked in, clean cut and presentable, uncomfortable and ashamed, with a cardboard sign asking for some humanity.
What are your thoughts? Have you seen this where you are? Are you concerned at all about where the economy may take you and your family? If desperation presented itself, would you have enough strength to swallow your pride and hold a cardboard sign for some help?
