Scared To Death at 1:00am

[FoxersArtist]

Andy and I were sitting in the bedroom chatting, giggling at Katie who was cooing on the bed, trying to run a marathon with her little legs going a mile a minute. It was just a little after 1:00 in the morning when suddenly the doorbell rang! We about jumped out of our skin. Andy ran to the door, looked out the window and when he saw a very drunk homeless man standing there, he whispered for me to get his gun. Andy cracked the door asking what the man wanted. He was shivering as he was only wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants and asked to come inside to warm up. We couldn't let him. He asked again. I went and got him an old blanket and tried to send him on his way with it. He begged to come in and warm up just for a moment. I told him that if he didn't leave, we would have to call the police. He left, but on his way down the walkway, he turned and said "but...I'm part of the christian...ministry...but..."

I was scared out of my mind! Who has a freezing drunk guy standing at the door at 1:00 am? At the same time, my heart really reached out to him. He was freezing. It's very cold out tonight. I watched out the side window as he walked down the highway, blanket over his shoulders. Couldn't I have found him a warmer blanket? I was too scared to have compassion for him at the time. It's really sad that we live in a world where inviting a stranger in to warm up and offering them a bite to eat could cost you your life. I wish I could have helped that guy. Who knows what brought him to where he is now. Maybe all he needed was a little love. Then again, maybe he was a psycho. The whole experience just really saddened me, once I stopped shaking!
-Anna

[bonnie]

I've thought that before. Sitting in my little car watching someone walk down the highway knowing how far it is to the next town. It is sad that I can't feel comfortable picking him/her up without fearing for my life.

[TikiTalks]

Anna,
you did the right thing.. you protected your family. The bible says be wise as a serpant, but harmless as a dove..

[Anne-Samantha's Mom]

how sad but you did the right thing

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

What a hard choice to have to make. I think I would've called the police - at least in jail it's warm and there's a meal. I don't know, maybe I wouldn't have done that. That's a tough one.

[too&me]

My heart goes out to both he & your family. I would also be so torn. The blanket did improve his condition., I'm sure my Mom would have given him Hot Chocolate & invited him in. I would have done as you did. Too many stories of death & injury to good samaratins. Growing up we lived in snow country so she would always meet the garbage truck workers with ho cocoa in winter & lemonade in summer. The mail man or mail lady always knew there was a sandwich & a cold drink or hot tea. I am not as giving as she but I am more cautious.

[michelle]

I'm so sorry. I used to volunteer at a crisis line and know that, in our area, if it goes below 32 degrees, they call it a "white flag night." This means that the shelters cannot turn away anyone. Normally they are not allowed to accept intoxicated persons, and can turn away people if they do not have room... but not on nights when it is freezing outside. And the homeless in our area all know if they flag down a cop on such a night and ask to be taken to to a shelter, they will be given a lift.
So, the man very well was dangerous and may have done serious harm to you and your family if you'd let him in. I figure, if my city, as conservative as it is, has such measures in place, others must, too!
By claiming to be a minister of some sort at the end he was obviously trying to play you any way he could.
If he shows up again, I'd call the police and not open the door. If they took him to the local jail for a night, well... I'm sure it's heated! ;)

[birdscomefirst]

That was a tough situation but you did the right thing.

It happens that what occured is part of a two part scheme to break into your home.

The first guy gets in using the pretense of cold and not dressed properly, then when you let him in, a gun comes out and a crew robs your house.

It happens more times than you would think.

You did good!