the homeless and the heartless

wanted to put this post up two days ago, but got a bit procrastinaty, but here it is.

as i was walking home from the bus stop after surprising salad, as i was nearing my block and heading towards the lift lobby, i saw an aged man folding and laying towels. as i neared him, i realised he was making his bed on one of those ledges. he had a black suitcase near him, and his pillow was made of smaller folded towels bunched together.

i felt like giving him something to eat, but i had no food with me. i felt like giving him some money, but i had no cash with me. so i just walked past him, like every other normal person would.

i guess the reality of the matter is that i was just making excuses for not having the courage to help him, although no one was looking. or was it because no one was looking, so i didn't bother to help him? i could have easily bought something from the coffeeshop for him to eat. i could have just walked a little bit more to withdraw cash from the atm. but i didn't.

it's impractical to want to help every needy person on earth, but isn't it like the story of the boy on the beach who was throwing starfish back into the ocean. the task may be seemingly impossible, but if my reaching out will help that one person, shouldn't i extend it? even if i may face rejection, even if i may face judgment, i shouldn't care about what others think of me right?

but it's so much easier said than done.