Still Waters: Rock throwing is unacceptable

My faithful companion the police scanner aired a report the other night of a vehicle occupied by several young people who threw rocks at a homeless person asking for money at one of the parking lot entrances to Wal-Mart. I heard the dispatcher air the information about what type of vehicle and heard police officers looking for it, but I don’t believe they found it.

It disturbed me that some of our local young people thought it was remotely acceptable for them to throw rocks at someone asking for money by the roadside. I wanted to go hunt them down myself and give them a verbal thrashing.

I wanted to tell them that none of us has the right to throw rocks, literally or otherwise, at other people. (Remind you of any Bible story? “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”)

Ironically, the incident occurred during HOPE (Homeless Outreach Prevention & Education) Week observed locally this week to provide education, awareness and compassion around the issues of homelessness.

La Puente (“the bridge”), our local homeless shelter, spearheads the events during the week, which include an information session with local leaders, a candlelight vigil, the making of “stone soup” at the elementary school (using vegetables grown at the school, added to the “stones” to produce a tasty soup, arising from the “Stone Soup” storybook) and a luncheon celebration for the community at the shelter, which will culminate the week on Sunday.

Those young people in that vehicle certainly need some education and compassion. I would hope that someday, if not sooner, they would change into people who regret throwing rocks at someone in lesser circumstances than themselves. Perhaps it will take something in their own lives that drives them to their knees.

We can debate whether or not the person at the parking lot entrance or the street corner is deserving of assistance or whether they are con artists who make their living “hanging the sign.” All I can say is it would not be a career move I would ever want to make.

Regardless, folks don’t have to give money or food to the person with the sign on that corner. They don’t have to agree with their lifestyles or how they might spend the money they do receive from well-meaning motorists. They don’t have to condone, accept or even appreciate the folks who sit or stand with the signs asking for money, work, gas or food.

They don’t even have to look at them if they don’t want to, as they drive by.

But they don’t have to throw rocks, either.