So early on Sunday morning David took Claire and her friend Rosie to a half marathon. 21km they were going to run and David was going to wait for them.
He was sitting in his car working on his computer when there was a knock at the window. There stood a young man who started to spin a very believable story of how he had run out of petrol at the nearby M5 and really needed some money for fuel. David assessed him and thought he seriously looked believable. He only had a R100 note and he wasn’t about to part with all of that, so he went to the nearby petrol station and broke it down into smaller change. While he was doing all that, his mind was at work, pondering whether this guy was legit. He didn’t feel comfortable handing out cash without being sure that it would be used for the required purpose. As he returned to the car, he decided to call the guy’s bluff. After all, he had time. The girls wouldn’t be done for another 2 hours.
So he said to the man who was waiting for the free hand-out, “actually I have time, get in my car and let’s go get some fuel and I’ll take you to your car and drop you there.”
“Agh no bru” he replied, “I don’t want to inconvenience you!”
As soon as he said that, David knew.
This guy was having him on.
David persisted, “Come on, get in my car, I’ve got time, it’s no inconvenience.”
The guy refused.
David really wanted to believe this scoundrel. He looked so honest and his story sounded so plausible – he really wanted his story to be true. He just about pleaded with the guy to get in his car.
When he wouldn’t, David eventually conceded that he had been lied to and refused to hand over the money.
To which the guy walked off saying he didn’t want the money anyway!
Grrrrrr!
David was so mad. He was cross with himself for even beginning to think the guy was in need.
There is a saying in rehab centres, “If his mouth is moving, he is lying”.
This event just reaffirms my difficulty in giving money to beggars. Instead, my latest is to have packets of 2 minute noodles hanging about the car and I hand those out instead.
In my Bible reading this morning, the proverb was:
Proverbs 26:24
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbours deceit.
Pretty much sums up David’s experience.
#76 of 1000 thanks – that David didn’t get ripped off.
#77 of 1000 thanks – that when we are ripped off, God is in control and that all we have comes from Him. I say this as we wait to find out if the company we paid thousands of rands to for our water tanks has gone under. Their phones are not working today and no one is returning our emails. They have been around since 1985, but right now it doesn’t look good. Thankfully, as I say, God is in control and He knows.
By the way, Claire and Rosy did fabulously well – 21km in 2hours 26 minutes. Applause!
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂