Cool people care, and caring people pay attention to what's going on in the world around them. And they make decisions based on serious considerations of the consequences of their actions - well, most of the time, anyway.

Money is hard earned, and in wanting to make the most of what we have, we try to not be frivolous. Yet, we live in a world where most everyone is out to get as much of our money as they can. Some professionals set up temptations, using all the skills at their disposal (such as the science of marketing, which seems to use our weaknesses against us). Car sales people scheme, grocery store managers set up impulse buying displays at checkout registers, and panhandlers look extra pitiful right before they ask us, "Hey buddy, can I ask you a question?"

While everyone competes for our hard earned money, we must decide how best to spend it. But when confronted by a panhandler, we often forget about being frugal, as our hearts become conflicted with a complex dilemma. A fellow human being is in need. Even if his hard luck story isn't true, just to look at him we know he suffers from some ailment. He says he's hungry. Well, that could be true. Deep down, we feel that regardless of our good intentions, the panhandler will not use the money we give him wisely. Although we do want to help him, we wonder what to do.

At first glance, the problems homeless people face may seem beyond our scope of understanding. Can we really meet any of his, or her, more important needs in just 5 minutes of caring?

For starters, we can put together care packages full of personal care items, as I have mentioned before on my website. These bags include: travel size tooth brushes, deodorant, comb, clean pair of socks, etc., These items are things that many homeless people need on a daily basis yet often do without. And providing those things is a blessing to the homeless. But the homeless really need something more than just the chance to make it through the day.

Homelessness is sometimes referred to as a slow suicide. The drugs, alcohol, mental illness, exposure to the elements, and the lack of privacy all take a serious toll. This is why people who die on the streets don't die of old age.

What homeless people need most of all is a way off the streets. And I must tell you, the idea of a homeless person pulling himself up by the bootstraps is a myth. Homeless people don't have boot straps. Every homeless person who has successfully gotten off the streets has done so with a lot of help from people with stable lives.

In taking 5 minutes one day, or perhaps 20 minutes another day, you can get to know a homeless person. Talk to him. Ask him how his day was. Share with him your own life stories. Become his friend. Over time, you'll get to know him for who he is, and get to know his real needs. And it would be on those needs that you could focus your care for him. Just know that being a real friend fulfills his biggest needs: the need to be known, the need to belong, and the need to be accepted. With these needs fulfilled, along with your care and encouragement, your homeless friend will find the motivation to take the journey out of homelessness.

2 others have done this "5 minutes of caring" To date, you've cared for 0 minutes on CoolPeopleCare.org

Comments

Stephen commented, on March 2, 2007 at 9:03 a.m.:

Thanks Kevin for taking more than 5 minutes to contribute such encouragement to CoolPeopleCare. And thanks Jay for the book idea -- here's to possibilities.

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Ingredients:

• Willingness to meet someone
• Questions and conversation
• Gift bag items

Caring Time:

• 20 Minutes

Cost:

• $10 (depending upon what you want to put in the care package)

Results:

• New friend
• Understanding of another human being
• Needs met
• Helping someone out of homelessness