Those folks begging at stoplights: their misfortune or merely their job?

You've seen the signs and the people holding them. They're in every city. Mostly at busy intersections.

"Homeless. Anything would help."

"Will work for food. God bless."

I've often passed them a few bucks. You've probably done the same.

It's hard not to. You've stopped right next to them. They catch your eye. You hit your wallet. It's human. It should be.

I see them frequently because my job requires me to be out on the road most every day.

There's an interstate exit I use about two or three times a week. Lots of cars use the exit. At the end of the offramp, there's a stoplight. It holds the traffic. In other words, it's a good spot.

Several months ago, there were three individuals on that corner. Situation wasn't very friendly that morning. Luckily, the light changed and I left at the harsh-language-and-shoving stage. It looked as if a major turf battle was about to break out.

I didn't think much about it until one day several weeks ago. It was about noon when I hit the exit and saw a middle-age man on the corner. Had a beard. Clothes had seen better days. Same basic sign. "Homeless. Please help."

The light was green and I couldn't stop, so I just rolled right through.

Twenty minutes later, I was headed back. This time, though, traffic was backed up at the light and I was stopped near the exit. It was empty.

Looking over into the parking lot of a convenience store across the street, I saw the guy who'd been holding the sign. He was with a woman and another man about his own age. They were all dressed pretty much the same and standing next to a late model, four-door, Honda sedan. Nice looking ride.

On the hood was a pretty good spread of food. Various coats and other things were in the back seat — including one or two more signs. They were eating and laughing.

Just before I drove away, the guy I'd seen earlier took a sign out of the car and handed it to the other gentleman who started walking to the corner.

Shift change. Afternoon crew coming on duty.

Yeah, I know. I could've misread the situation. But I don't think so.

And the whole thing struck me wrong because of that previous shoving match I'd seen and another recent incident where there'd been an individual on a corner near our place of business. His sign said "Will work for food."

He looked healthy, so we stopped and offered him a day's work — cleaning up, straightening inventory on the shelves. That kind of stuff. Nothing difficult. No heavy lifting. Inside work. Out of the weather.

We told him we'd pay $8 an hour — cash — for an eight-hour day. Plus, we threw in an offer of a free lunch and a ride back to his corner at the end of the day.

Wrong offer, apparently.

"Could I just have some money, man?" was the condensed question.

"Nope," was the equally condensed reply.

Are there homeless people out there?

You bet there are.

Are there needy people on the streets?

More than we know.

Are there people down on their luck who could use and are thankful for anything that comes their way?

Of course.

But, there are also the lazy and indifferent. There are the booze hounds and the druggies. There are those to whom the idea of a day's work for a day's pay is repugnant. They have no intention nor even a desire to do anything useful. And so they panhandle.

Trouble is, I can't tell them from the truly needy. And, lately, it bothers me. That's because, when I do give someone some money, instead of feeling good about it, I now wonder if I'm being silently laughed at.

Most of us drop money into the collection plate at church. We donate to charity. We take used clothes and shoes to the Salvation Army. We give blood and volunteer. We'll also, from time to time, pass money to someone sitting on a street corner who looks as if he or she might need it.

However, after these recent experiences, whenever I see one of these individuals holding a sign, I find myself asking where's the car parked and who has the afternoon shift.

It's because I'm never going to be a saint.

In fact, I probably have a long way to go before I even find the road that leads to my being the person I'd like to be.

In my defense, though, there are some people out there who sure aren't making it any easier.

They make me feel leery and used.

I don't like that feeling.

And I can't make it go away.

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