Safety Net

A few weeks back I went to a movie with somebody dear to me.  Western Washington still clung to winter, and and night fell early even though it was spring break.  Out of the darkness a woman approached:

"Do you have any money to spare? I'm hungry."

I turned away and told her no.

Stepping into the building, my purse felt like lead.

I had $12 cash in there.

I wish I could say that I went back outside and handed her the money, but I didn't.  We were running late, I didn't want to get left without a ticket, and I didn't want to explain myself to my companion.

Essentially, I placed more value on the first few minutes of previews than the woman.

I took my seat and watched my movie, feeling horribly guilty.

Later, mediocre movie over, settled at home, I expressed my guilty conscience.

"I can't believe I didn't give her any money.  I still feel terrible about it."

"She probably would have spent it on drugs or alcohol."

"But you don't know that.  She might have had a family to feed.  She might not have eaten today."

"Why risk it?"

I thought for a minute.  "Because if I was ever homeless, I'd want someone to give me the benefit of a doubt."

"But your middle class background says you'll never be homeless," the one who is dear to me responded, then she changed the subject.

I don't have the research handy to tell you the details on why this is true.  But it is unlikely I will ever be homeless.  The middle class is raised with the speaking habits, manners, and values held in high esteem by the privileged people in America.  Our upbringing provides a comfortable safety net of potential employers and established family connections to halt a descent into poverty.  We are privileged to be less likely to end up homeless than the people from lower classes.

Exasperated, the voice in my head retorted: Just because I was lucky enough to be born in a middle class family with white parents and white grandparents who have all been able to get good jobs for most of my life - does that mean I shouldn't care?

No, it doesn't.  Not at all.

God gave me certain privileges, and I strive to be conscious of how I use them.