Charity and Judgement

While in Costa Rica in 2004, my Army Dental Company was doing a humanitarian dental mission to the area around Golfito, in the southwest corner of the country. While in line for fuel I was sitting in the back of a Jeep as we fueled several vehicles at a local gas station. While waiting a man climbed from under the deck on the edge of the station and approached me in the Jeep. I turned as he said "colones Gringo?"- he wanted money. As he walked toward us I noticed a hemiplegia with spasticity. He must have had a brain injury. I gave him several coins and he rushed off.

I then was engaged by a fellow Army officer who said that the guy will only buy alcohol with the money. He felt that I had wasted my money. Until I looked at the small store on the highway. I saw the man shoving a banana into his mouth and he had another in hand. As he approached the Jeep I was glad I shared. I got out of the Jeep and he got very close and said "Gracias". Then without thinking I opened my wallet and gave him a 10,000 colones bill. He looked with disbelief and wrapped his arms around me and fell to his knees. "Gracias, gracias" with tears pouring down his face. He then walked off and around the filling station.

I had a potent scent of body odor on my clothing the rest of the day. It was unpleasant and yet something that reminded me of my best encounter in Costa Rica. I had changed several hundred dollars into colones and had not spent very much at all. I fed a man and have no regrets at all. If he buys liquor- so be it. I am a much better man for responding to my spirit.

If we share with some person in charity, let us not judge. If you give, just give. Don't always expect a miracle from them, recognize the beauty of having extra to share. Our abundance is often taken for granted. We are all one car accident from death or disability. Please enjoy the moments to stretch and become more kind and generous. All my best, Joe