Responding Abnormally

For about five minutes yesterday, I completely hated myself.

Crystal gets home after 6 p.m. as of late due to the hours that she has to work during the summer (she nannies for a family in North Dallas). So since I rarely hear my phone ring I missed her request for me to stop by the store before she got home.

Thus, when she did get home, we ended up going to our friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart for some goods.

Let me paint you a picture. Imagine you live in an area with few or no other similar forms of retail, where incomes are low, and the desire for everyday low prices leaves the public gasping for breath. Welcome to your West Dallas Wal-Mart. Run. Over.

So we get our things, wait for the lady two people ahead of us in line to cross-reference every other grocery circular in the Southwestern United States for each individual item (in both of her carts, which were filled to the brim), (did not know Wal-Mart price matched Ritz Crackers), we checked out and headed for the car.

As is common, as we approach our car, a man approaches us. There are people that hawk tamales and other items in the parking lot, as well as a number of other folks wandering around and having an all around good time with their homies.

I know what's coming.

Him: In the gentlest voice possible, "Excuse me sir, I was wondering if you can spare a dollar, I just got in town and ..."

Me: (In my mind) "Yeah, yeah, yeah, you just got in town, you ran out of gas, your grandmother is sick and all you need is for me to cash this check for you. Uh huh. Sure."

Him: "... haven't had anything to eat."

[Our simultaneous response]
Me: Sorry man can't help you. (I am a liar.)
My More Loving Wife: I think I've got a couple of bucks here for you to get something to eat.

Me: (In my mind) "I am a despicable excuse for a human being."

Him: "A guy took my wallet so I don't have an ID, do you know of a shelter that will let people stay without an ID?"

So he proceeds to tell me about this specific church in Grand Prairie and a pastor there who is trying to help him get his ID, and how they're supposed to be overnighting a copy of his birth certificate to this church so the pastor can take him to the DPS office. I offer a few recommendations aside from the places he had already named, though I know the chances of anyone taking in a guy without ID are extremely slim.

I have no idea if he was telling the truth or not. Doesn't matter really.

The entire point of moving to West Dallas was supposed to be that we would be put in a position to care for people and be an example of Christ's love in the community. In this instance I failed miserably. Thankfully my wife was there to spare me further angst and disappointment.

I know we will have many more opportunities, I pray we will. Just a reminder that just because we moved somewhere others don't want to be doesn't make me any less of a worldly jerk than I was three weeks ago.