Friday, October 8, 2010

When need imposes

This evening I was with my youngest son and we were heading to Dan's Hamburgers for some Mom and Son time for dinner. As I pulled into my parking spot I caught the eye of someone waiting at the bus stop. I reached over for my purse in the passenger's seat and turned toward the door only to find that person at my car door. He asked if I could help him so I narrowly lowered my window and he explained that he was stranded and in need of medical attention, being a diabetic he was from a nearby suburb and unable to get home for an insulin injection. He tried to continue on that if only he had 2.5 gallons of gas he could return home.
His speech was definitely slurred, he admitted that he was weak, he didn't want to ask for help but something had not turned out the way he'd expected - a visit to a church was involved where the preacher wasn't there, it didn't make sense, and I didn't want to be fed a slew of half-truths or out right lies.
I told him that because he is diabetic I wanted to help him, I asked if he'd eaten and he had not, he tried once more for the gasoline but I refused to give him money. I asked him to come in with us, my son and me, and I bought dinner for all of us.
He didn't sit with us, and he didn't stay around after he finished his burger. I hope some of what I did helped him. I hope he didn't get sick because I felt like I forced him to eat and maybe I shouldn't have. However, his need imposed on my dinner with my son, and I responded as best as I could. I feel kind of decent about it.