On the drive home today I saw at least 8 grown men walking around with a shopping cart or bag with their stuff. These people didn’t look like ordinary homeless people just broken but rather people who were homeless recently. When I was younger and more arrogant I simply believed people were lazy and thus wouldn’t work. There are probably some people in that situation.

I also came to know sometimes you can become bankrupt with the people around you and suddenly things can spiral downwards with no end in sight. This new infinity for the homeless folks has caused me to realize that most of us are closer to homelessness than we think. For me personally half a decade ago I myself almost became homeless. Once you are late with rent with an apartment they will tell the next apartment calling for reference the one thing you did wrong even if you paid on-time for the term on your lease. I was divorced and my credit at the time was not looking to good. I offered the landlord my deposit for my mistake for being late on the rent and to offer me a reasonable reference. He kept the money and still gave me a bad reference. About 1200 dollars which I guess what I get trying to work the system. You could become homeless just from the fact no one wants to rent to you. At the time I posted a plea for help on roommates.com for someone to rent me a room. After having no luck for weeks wouldn’t you know it several people offered to help me out. Now I live in a very comfortable house but I can never forget how people will try to walk over you when you are in a bad situation. I can’t imagine what folks are going through now. 

At the time for me recently single, broke and trying to figure it all out. I often gave my last dollar to a homeless person. In my Mind I had what I needed to spiral back up. Often people fall for a trap that leaves them homeless, friendless and hopeless. If you have been broken by the world then you can understand this. If you haven’t been broken then you may have no idea what I am writing about. I have unique perspective to know what it’s like on both sides but I tell you truthfully you should bless and give to those who have nothing or are homeless. Not because you have to but you can see firsthand how the universe provides for you with ease and abundance abounds for some. I would suggest that anyone not living well is suffering from some kind of illusion. Worse yet the scammers and drug users are also suffering from a kind of illusion. Even when people try to con me as I walk out of a store that they need 8 dollars to get their car out of impound. If you have every had a car impounded it can be like 250 a day. It really sucks. This con around for a while is a played out to scam some one out there money.

For some reason I can forgive that and see that the person is confused and doing the best they can. Someone probably taught them how to do it. It was probably a thrill the first time they did it. It works pretty well and you can get by until something better comes along. I wonder if I had become homeless because no answered my ad on roommates would someone have taken me in and showed me how con people out of their money… There is lot of evidence that suggest that if we had been in their place with their level of understanding we could be up to those tricks ourselves. I think that’s why at first we have the capacity to resent them or ignore the homeless or con people completely. The discomfort comes from our own lack of understanding about how the world really works. In LA people are famous for holding a sign saying “just need a beer” or something appearing overly honest. I remember a man who was on the exit of a freeway who I gave money to when my car lined up with his. His sign said “God loves you”. Although I can’t not tell you to give I can tell you to see if you are inspired to give. To give should never feel like a sacrifice.        

Los Angeles Mission