Monday, September 14, 2009

A choice

I was sitting in the drive through teller at my bank this afternoon. As she counted the multiple dollar bills I had just given her, (don't get the wrong idea, they were just tips from painting at the zoo the past weekend) a random man with a backpack came wandering up to the drive through and started talking to the lady inside.
I couldn't quite understand what he was asking, but the look on the teller's face was very, well, telling.
She kind of rolled her eyes and smirked. I can only imagine what my face was saying, because she shortly told me, "He wants you to cash his check."
I looked over at the man, who kept mumbling something over and over. Finally I heard him say it, "I'm homeless. They won't cash my check at Publix, and I need the money for the bus."
As the thoughts began racing through my head, I knew that I was faced with a choice. I could cash his check for him, and give him the money, but if the check came back, I would be faced with a $25 fee.
The teller explained this to the man, and the man quickly protested "It won't come back! It's a money order! My dad sent it to me! I have a letter. . ."
The man continued to babble on, as I knew that shortly the teller would be done with my transaction and I'd drive away, to leave this man cashless.
I rolled down my window and asked him to see the money order. "I'll give you two dollars to cash it. I'm homeless. I need the money to get to where I'm staying tonight."
I looked at the money order in my hands. It was only made out for $20. Less then my check bounce fee.
I didn't even have the time to pray about it. I just had to make a decision.
"I'll cash his check." I said to the teller, who looked a little incredulous.
As she finished the transaction, I looked at the man and told him, "You don't have to pay me two dollars. I'm doing this because I believe in Jesus and I know He loves you."
What a stupid thing to say. Seriously, I couldn't come up with something better? I'm horrible at sharing the gospel.
Nevertheless, the man told me he believed in Jesus too. I couldn't really think of anything else to say.
"I just need the money to get to my church. I owe them $15. Thank you so much."
I grabbed the wad of dollar bills on my passenger seat that I had reserved for myself from the tips. I gave it to the man and told him that I wanted him to pay his church back. Then I suddenly felt very convicted, because if I had acted earlier, I could have given him more cash.
The teller gave me my deposit slips and that was that. I told the man, "God Bless you," to which he returned.
I drove off feeling like I wished I could do more. Why is it never enough?

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