I see a homeless person on the street, standing against a building. ‘Hey, could you help me out a little?’, he calls out. I experience mixed messages when this occurs. Part of me is wants to help; feels guilty when I don’t. Another part is angry because I don’t just do it without thinking about what action to take, and not more inclined to just offer to help. Still a 3rd part of me feels pain for anyone who needs help. Phil Collins wrote a song several years ago, ‘Just Another Day in Paradise’, about homelessness.
Here are some of the Lyrics:
She calls out to the man on the street
“Sir can you help me?
It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to sleep.
Is there somewhere you can tell me?”
He walks on, doesn’t look back
He pretends he can’t hear her
Anyway, the point is. I am always torn when this occurs. I want to help more, but I don’t always. One can almost always do more to help. If guided to do something you should. If you can’t, just do the best you can at the time. Something is better than nothing, even if its something small.