Feeding a Beggar
Feeding a Beggar
March 12, 2010
Today is the last day that I will be conducting classes for the adorable, smiling faces of the children in Nedumkandam. Next week final examinations begin, and summer vacation will follow soon after. All the teachers have finished their “portions” (the required curricula for the examinations) and most of this week has been used for review. I’ve enjoyed reviewing my kids by playing Hangman with them, using terms from their books or important quotes from their stories as the solutions. The kids seem to love it :).
Fridays are days when lunch is a little out of the ordinary. Usually, lunchtime begins at 12:15, but on Fridays it begins at 12:50 to allow for the Muslim students to attend a special prayer at the local mosque at 1 pm. I was feeling especially hungry today, as I often do on Fridays, and was eagerly awaiting lunchtime when the bell finally rang. I hurried out of class and left my books in the staff room before heading to lunch with Mathew and Pratheeba, my neighbors and Indian “parents”. They feed me twice a day with their fabulous Indian cooking and they’ve been hugely supportive: they’ve helped me get settled in my home, given me plenty of advice on adapting to eastern living, taught me quite a bit of Malayalam, and we’ve spent many nights talking long after dinner is over about anything and everything.
I arrived at my home, just next door to M&P’s, and did my usual routine of putting my water bottle in the refrigerator and using the restroom. As I was leaving my house to have lunch next door, I found a woman standing outside. She was dark-skinned, slightly larger, in her early sixties, barefooted and dressed like a beggar. Like a mime, she began motioning a story to me without using any words. I asked her if she wanted money, making a motion with my hands by rubbing my thumb against my index finger. She continued with her story and lifted her sari, exposing her scarred belly. I asked her again if she wanted money, and she nodded and silently put her hands together as though praying to the heavens. I grabbed the seven rupees that were on the table and gave them to her. She appeared thankful. I then closed the door, and finished up my last few things before going to M&P’s.
When I opened the door again, she had moved about three meters, standing just in front of M&P’s house, while their door was open. I removed my shoes, went inside and asked them if they were aware of the lady standing outside. I told them that she had just finished coming to me asking for money, and they told me that she came to them asking for food. They prepared a plate for her of the fresh, warm food that our lunch was comprised of, invited her in, and gave her a seat. The beggar had lunch right there with us. Perhaps for my sake she didn’t join us at the intimate family table - she ate at the tea table just a few meters away next to the television.
For whatever reason, I was uncomfortable. I kind of wanted her to eat outside so that we could have a normal lunch with our normal conversation. I was thinking, “If this were America, I could just buy her some fast food and then be on my way!” I like my privacy with meals, especially if it’s being taken by an unannounced beggar who just shows up expecting you to feed them. Besides, why do WE have to feed her? There are plenty of hotels (restaurants) in town who probably have food to spare and would gladly give her a plate to eat. I’d hope so. And M&P only prepared enough food for three people, not four. They’re careful not to make too much because they don’t want food to go to waste. What if we end up hungry after this meal because of the extra food she ate?
I quickly realized how selfish my thoughts were becoming. She isn’t at a hotel; she’s at our house. M&P are feeding her and doing a good thing. Jesus instructed us to “give to whoever asks of you” (Luke 6:30) and while I think there are exceptions to that, this doesn’t need to be one of them. It’s a beautiful thing to be feeding this woman, and, in a way, sharing Christ’s love. You never know what small acts of kindness like this could do for the name of Christianity in a Hindu nation.
I got to thinking about this situation quite a bit as I sat there and ate my meal. I decided that I wanted to journal about it (the result of which you are reading now). This reminds me of why I look up to Mathew and Pratheeba. Although they are very aware of how their humble lives compare with what other people may have in America, they remain simple, cheerful, and very hospitable.
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40
March 12, 2010
Today is the last day that I will be conducting classes for the adorable, smiling faces of the children in Nedumkandam. Next week final examinations begin, and summer vacation will follow soon after. All the teachers have finished their “portions” (the required curricula for the examinations) and most of this week has been used for review. I’ve enjoyed reviewing my kids by playing Hangman with them, using terms from their books or important quotes from their stories as the solutions. The kids seem to love it :).
Fridays are days when lunch is a little out of the ordinary. Usually, lunchtime begins at 12:15, but on Fridays it begins at 12:50 to allow for the Muslim students to attend a special prayer at the local mosque at 1 pm. I was feeling especially hungry today, as I often do on Fridays, and was eagerly awaiting lunchtime when the bell finally rang. I hurried out of class and left my books in the staff room before heading to lunch with Mathew and Pratheeba, my neighbors and Indian “parents”. They feed me twice a day with their fabulous Indian cooking and they’ve been hugely supportive: they’ve helped me get settled in my home, given me plenty of advice on adapting to eastern living, taught me quite a bit of Malayalam, and we’ve spent many nights talking long after dinner is over about anything and everything.
I arrived at my home, just next door to M&P’s, and did my usual routine of putting my water bottle in the refrigerator and using the restroom. As I was leaving my house to have lunch next door, I found a woman standing outside. She was dark-skinned, slightly larger, in her early sixties, barefooted and dressed like a beggar. Like a mime, she began motioning a story to me without using any words. I asked her if she wanted money, making a motion with my hands by rubbing my thumb against my index finger. She continued with her story and lifted her sari, exposing her scarred belly. I asked her again if she wanted money, and she nodded and silently put her hands together as though praying to the heavens. I grabbed the seven rupees that were on the table and gave them to her. She appeared thankful. I then closed the door, and finished up my last few things before going to M&P’s.
When I opened the door again, she had moved about three meters, standing just in front of M&P’s house, while their door was open. I removed my shoes, went inside and asked them if they were aware of the lady standing outside. I told them that she had just finished coming to me asking for money, and they told me that she came to them asking for food. They prepared a plate for her of the fresh, warm food that our lunch was comprised of, invited her in, and gave her a seat. The beggar had lunch right there with us. Perhaps for my sake she didn’t join us at the intimate family table - she ate at the tea table just a few meters away next to the television.
For whatever reason, I was uncomfortable. I kind of wanted her to eat outside so that we could have a normal lunch with our normal conversation. I was thinking, “If this were America, I could just buy her some fast food and then be on my way!” I like my privacy with meals, especially if it’s being taken by an unannounced beggar who just shows up expecting you to feed them. Besides, why do WE have to feed her? There are plenty of hotels (restaurants) in town who probably have food to spare and would gladly give her a plate to eat. I’d hope so. And M&P only prepared enough food for three people, not four. They’re careful not to make too much because they don’t want food to go to waste. What if we end up hungry after this meal because of the extra food she ate?
I quickly realized how selfish my thoughts were becoming. She isn’t at a hotel; she’s at our house. M&P are feeding her and doing a good thing. Jesus instructed us to “give to whoever asks of you” (Luke 6:30) and while I think there are exceptions to that, this doesn’t need to be one of them. It’s a beautiful thing to be feeding this woman, and, in a way, sharing Christ’s love. You never know what small acts of kindness like this could do for the name of Christianity in a Hindu nation.
I got to thinking about this situation quite a bit as I sat there and ate my meal. I decided that I wanted to journal about it (the result of which you are reading now). This reminds me of why I look up to Mathew and Pratheeba. Although they are very aware of how their humble lives compare with what other people may have in America, they remain simple, cheerful, and very hospitable.
“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40