What binds us to noble principles is our good feelings toward those whose circumstances call for our assistance.  If we think again and again about our own frailty in life, we would certainly be conscious of those in distress.  Money may not always be the one and only medium through which we can extend our help to the needy, although money serves as a common instrument in this regard.  For instance,  a person’s handicap or disability becomes an impediment at the spur of the moment, such  as experiencing difficulty rising from the chair, moving around steadily with a cane, getting into the car, or when a blind person hesitates before stepping on the crosswalk, in spite of his cane. (such a person may yet have to get accustomed to adjusting to the change in his unfortunate lifestyle), or a person falling down suddenly while walking and you happen to be around. 

There are some people who feel that they should not be involved in incidents that do not concern them. There are those in a hurry, and think that business should be their first priority.  When there is an immediate need for help, we should not hesitate to extend it.  If we have a cellphone, we should dial 911 for an ambulance.

Homelessness has become so common these days, that people have gotten accustomed to it.  They seem to ignore those who stand or remain huddled on sidewalks.  The impulse to ignore sights such as these has become understandably prevalent.  Not long ago, I observed a homeless woman of advanced age, standing in close proximity to a fast food restaurant.  She looked famished and her speech sounded unintelligible.  I asked her if she was hungry.  She nodded affirmatively.  Instead of offering her money, I directed her inside that restaurant, ordered  a hamburger, fries and a soda and offered the food to her.  She smiled and thanked me. Judging from the way she kept eating, I was convinced that it was her first meal of the day. 

Good feelings are generally spontaneous.  Those that walk away from the misery of others, should realize that, as human beings, they might some day suffer similar reversals.  We should not be deliberately indifferent to other people’s pain and suffering, just as we would similarly expect others to be cognizant of our own predicament.