It was pouring rain outside. A homeless man asked to use my cell phone. I let him and asked him if he was cold. I gave him my jacket. He needed some money to get back on his feet. I gave him 180 dollars. I am catholic. Was I crazy in doing this?
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ANSWERS: 24
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This does not sound like mental disease to me. You'll have people telling you he's probably going to just spend the money for alcohol and blah blah blah. Bottom line is you felt compassion and reached out to help another human being. You may have helped this men more than you'll every know.
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Absolutely not, you're amazingly generous. The $180, who knows. The type of homeless person who lives under bridges might very well be alcoholics or mentally ill. Others are of the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God-go-I type. Either way, homeless shelters and rescue-mission type places are great places to donate to if you're worried about the guy spending it on alcohol.
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Not at all! it may not be everyone's response to the situation, but it was your way of helping others. Other people may put in many hours at a charity or spend lots of time at a soup kitchen.
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Not sure why you felt a need to tell us you are Catholic and I doubt if anyone could commit you because of those actions.
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I think is was very nice of you to do that, I am sure he is very appreciative, you gave him a break where he wont have to struggle for awhile. -
Perhaps. But then there is always the chance that such was the one thing he needed to get his life turned around.
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probably but good deeds are always well noted in the book of life
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Crazy? No. Generous? Yes. Something I would have done? Probably not.
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no not at all
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Well, I wouldn't say you are crazy. It was very commendable of you to allow him to use your phone and take you jacket. And giving him some money was also very generous too, but $180? What's he going to do with that? I hope get a hotel room and a decent meal for a few nights. But that doesn't really help his situation long term. Could you afford to give him that much money? But even with all my skepticism... you are amazing. Your heart and intentions were in the right place!
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I tend to agree somewhat is Amorphous B, you have no idea what he would spend that money on- but at the same time it may just be what he needed to get things straight again. Crazy? No- generous? Yes. I went to a concert in Detroit- and whilst there I talked to a Manager at a Subway (fast food, not the actual sub-way) He told my friend and I that there are a lot of homeless people in Detroit- and that most places (like Subway) offer them jobs to help them get on the right track- though he also told us that most people they would give jobs to would only last a few hours at most then leave. We can only hope the actions that we involve ourselves in are for the greater good. Good luck! +3
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That's generosity and it tells me so much more about you than words could ever describe.
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what matters most is 1.how do you feel about? 2.did you need what you gave away,and will you recoup the costs quickly? 3.can he be trusted to use it wisely,or will he just use it for his vices 4.was it worth it,to you?...
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Nope, just stupid. He used the phone to call his dealer, and the money to buy drugs. Nice gesture giving him the jacket, though.
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Nice plug for catholicism toward the end. I'm not sure if I could write anyone off as crazy over an act of generosity, but you may have just supplied him with enough booze and cigarette money to make it through the week.
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There's a line between charity and foolishness, and that crosses my understanding of that line. Still, it's your stuff, so give it all away until you're right next to him for all I care.
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No but unfortunately some people use the money for booze.
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After reading the first part of the question, I thought you were going to say, "I am rich". I don't think a poor Catholic would have done this. I don't think you are crazy, I think you must be rich.
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I did something very similar too. i dont think your crazy at all. however, i dont know why you added you were catholic, im atheist- it makes no diference.
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No. You were being human.
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No, you were following the scriptural admonition, Matthew 25:37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
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If you honestly gave the money from you heart with the intentions of helping this person should it matter what he does with the money, God will bless you for the deeds that you do from your heart never question your decisions when god is involved just trust and believe that the choice you made was right and be thankful that you where able to bless someone with the blessing that God gave to you, And your religion has nothing to do with the question at hand. your question was of making clear and good judgment and eventhough somtimes people tend to question what they have already done, if it was not meant to give him the money it never would have grazed his hand. But you are a beautiful woman of compassion and love and you are and will be forever blessed for your heart being open and pure, may GOD bless you and keep you.
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If the man in question was truly needy (which you will never know for certain) then you did a very kind and unselfish deed and are to be commended. If he took advantage of you by deception, then he will someday have to answer to a higher authority. Charity/kindness is not limited to any denomination or creed, so why was mention of your denomination necessary? As far as being "crazy" ..... I think not. God bless you!
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Not at all. If your motivation was to help a fellow human being in trouble, you did the correct thing. What he actually did with what you gave him is between him and God.
Thriftymaid 
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