Contemplative Monday

The following is from 'Heart Advice, Weekly Quotes From Pema Chodron'.

GENEROSITY

"A young couple decided to deal with their ambivalence about panhandlers

by giving money to the first person who asked each day.

They were sincerely attempting to work with their confusion 

around the issue of homelessness, but they had an agenda:

they would be good, generous people and do their noble deed

and then forget about their conflicted feelings

for the rest of the day.

One morning a drunk asked the woman for money as she went into a store.

Even though he was the first panhandler of the day, his presence disgusted her

and she didn't want to give him anything.

When she came out of the store she hastily gave him a bill and rushed away.

Walking to her car, she heard a voice calling, "Ma'am, ma'am!"

She turned and there was the drunk, who said,

"I think you made a mistake! You gave me a five."