What is something you have done to help a complete stranger?
Just the other day I was downtown dealing with some court nonsense, and I saw several people sleeping homeless under the bridge in the parking lot where a part. As if serendipity had placed its hand in front of me, I realize that I had two lunches army that day, and I certainly wasn't going to eat both. So I took the freshest say in which I had, and I went over and gave it to the nearest man sleeping near my car. I know it's not everything, though I'd imagine that better than nothing.
I may not answer this question directly, but I sure have a very nice thing to share about helping a complete stranger...
I have a great teacher and he taught us how can people really help someone. He said, definitely, people (all the living beings) have material necessities, but giving these things to them may not help that much. He said, it is great to help those who have lost their homes due to flood or fire and give them food to eat, clothes, and shelter, but after sometime, all these things will soon be gone and they'll still need more which you can never give. They still need lots of things to survive, but as limited as we are, we can never give them all the support they need. Though we truly want to help them, the fact still remains that we are limited in every aspect. We may want to keep them happy and comfortable, but we truly can't. All we can do is a temporary relief from their miserable lives. My great teacher also said that there is the best way which can help them forever... Give them the knowledge about God and the relationship of every individual to God. Tell them that we cannot truly be happysimply by having material things (food, water, shelter, money, relationships in this world which everyone is seeking). Enlighten them that even the most richest and most beautiful person has this already but s/he is not happy in his position. Still there are things that they demand and need. Speak to them heart to heart that what they need is God and to have a loving relationship with God. Because in the end, when there is another flood or disaster that may come their way and there's no one around to help them, the only thing that they will experience is pure helplessness, fear, and pain. But if we give to them the knowledge about God, and they start to make the effort to love God, no matter what they do, no matter what problem they may encounter, they'll still be okay. Because they know, in their hearts, God knows what He is doing and He knows what's best for them. They'll have faith that God loves them and He will protect them.
We can give a complete stranger help (material things) but make sure to make this as a loving service to God and make the effort to speak to him about God as well. I am not the one who have helped a complete stranger, I am that complete stranger who have been helped.
I have given food to the homeless and even money which I was chewed out for by a business owner. I was told it encourages them to stick around the businesses. I'm so sorry I encouraged a suffering human being to block your doorway buddy! ...
I tend to do little things - hold doors, give quarters to people at the Aldi market, smile at someone having a hard day, being a generous tipper - just the little things I think add up and show us our common humanity.
I had a most extraordinary experience/coincidence happen to me in the Autumn of 2004 (not too long after I survived and fully recovered from a comatose state). I was hit while in my Ford Escape by a drunk driver. It was a classic Hit and Run incident. He came over a curb from a grassy area perpendicular to the highway and impacted my passenger-side, and drove on. I too ran after him (in my Ford Escape). After catching up to him and almost hitting him with my fist, I suddenly stopped and allowed him to walk away. He did walk away, cursing, swearing (not at me) and in complete denial of the event.
Meanwhile the police came perused the scene, our vehicles and after asking me a series of questions they walked off looking for this gentleman. Meanwhile a lady in a mini-van came up to me, jumped out and hugged me. Now I, the somewhat of an idiot, complained and said, "lady what the heck are you doing can't you see I was just in an accident? Look, leave me alone!" I thought to myself, poor, poor Johnny, he will be without his wheels for a few days, probably be stuck with a $500 deductable and look at his escape!
This lady was persistent and realized I was unaware of what "good" I had accomplished. She said, “Look, you don't understand, I was beside you in the other lane when you intercepted that guy! If you were not there (and she pointed to the passenger side of her mini-van) my children would have been hit by that guy. In her car were 3 children, (ages 6, 4, and either 3 or 2). I was literally a block for her (without knowing) my act may have saved 3 lives. A more complete story about this can be read at: http://connorj.hubpages.com/hub/Gods-Pawn
Many times--- I like giving food, water, clothes, books etc. to help those who need them. It gives me immense satisfaction to do that.
The old man in line in front of me at the grocery store did not have enough money to pay for the meat in his cart. I told the cashier to put it on my bill and let him have it. Didn't know the man and never saw him again, but could not handle someone not having enough money to buy the groceries he needed.
One time at work I found a large amount of money on the ground. Rather then keeping it, which i'll admit was very tempting, I turned it in. Eventually the owner of that money, having realized what had happened, was able to come back in and claim the money.
I have fed the homeless meals personally, but never give them money. Unfortunately, many will spend it on alcohol etc.
I have organized coat drives and handed out coats to struggling families. I have organized food drives for local food pantries. I have an on-going fundraising program for raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.
I believe that we as individuals and local organizations are the first line of defense and not the government, especially the federal government.
I have had two situations where I helped women on the side of the road:
1. The first was a teenage girl walking on the side of the road without shoes on. I stopped my car and offered her a spare pair of sandals I had in the car.
2. The second was a mom with a little boy in a stroller. She is trying to get the strolled through a field rather than walk along the side of the busy road. So, I stopped my car and helped her get the stroller to the crosswalk.
by FreezeFrame34 11 years ago
What is worst comment a complete stranger has made to you in a public place? How did you handel it?I've had people tell me "You look like you just crawled out of bed!" After I was up all night with q sick child. I've had people ask questions like," How far along are you?"...
by manofmystery24 11 years ago
Have you ever connected with a complete stranger?Have you ever had a brief moment where you ran into a stranger and connected with them immediately?
by CM Sullivan 11 years ago
Would you allow a complete stranger to suffer if your family would be happy forever?If you and your whole extended family could be happy and disease free forever with no tragedies or horrible things happening to them ever, as long as at the same time a complete stranger would be suffering...
by phion 11 years ago
Can someone please tell me what our current president has done to help you? I can't think of how anything the democrats in congress or the President has tried to do has helped me. I hope there is someone out there that they have helped, and hope I can hear about it.
by pennyofheaven 13 years ago
Have you ever?Met a complete stranger who you feel like you have known forever?
by Julip Manor 12 years ago
Have you ever helped a stranger? If so, what did you do?One sweltering day in June, as I was driving home I saw a man walking down the street with a gas can in his hand. I picked him up and took him to the gas station. He said, "bye"......and I said I am staying to give...
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