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Beggars By Lorrie Orr Beggars are a part of life in Quito, Ecuador. Women dressed in tattered clothing, accompanied by children with matted hair, ring gate buzzers asking for clothing or food. The lame and the blind sit on street corners, dozing in the sun, with a small cup or bowl in their hand. At every traffic light, a woman with a bandaged leg, a man leaning heavily on a crutch or a tiny child approaches cars and pleads for a little money. Each beggar has a personality, displayed in the way in which he or she begs. As I drive through the city to the market, the grocery store, the clinic or the mall, I see the same beggars on the same corners, day after day. Their attitudes and actions remind me of my relationship to God and the way I respond to Him. I was a beggar, bereft and destitute, until Christ gave His life for me on the cross. Now a child of the King, I remain completely and wholly dependent on Him alone for all I need to sustain me. What is my attitude in asking and in receiving? Do I march up to Him, pound on the window of heaven and demand charity as my right, as one woman recently did to me as I waited for a green light? Do I stand before Him, whining in self-pity and snatch at what is given me with a perfunctory "Thanks"? Do I ask with an attitude of hopelessness, never expecting to receive? Victor sits on the median on the street I go along each week to the grocery store. His legs are withered and twisted. I have seen him hobble with the use of metal crutches, but his progress is slow and painful. As I approach the intersection in my unmistakable yellow van, Victor waves. "Hola, amiga! Como esta? (Hello, friend! How are you?)" he calls. Rolling down the window, I reach down to shake his hand and often give him a little money. He always responds with a hearty "Thank you" and "God bless you." Even on the days when the light is green and I sail by without giving anything, or when I am without cash, or even when I am in a grouchy mood and don't feel like giving, Victor's attitude remains the same. He is always happy to see me and to greet me. I confess that, as a result of his cheerfulness and gratitude, I give Victor larger amounts than I do to other beggars. I know that he has several children to support, but my primary reason for giving to him is because of his attitude. Victor delights in seeing me whether I give or not. Back to my relationship with God. Do I enjoy being with Him whether or not He grants all my wishes? Does He give to me because I demand or whine but take little pleasure in the giving? Or does He delight in giving me the desires of my heart because I'm thankful just to be able to spend time with Him? Home Articles Speaking Blog About Me Links Contact Copyright 2006 Lorrie Orr |