"There is no illusion greater than fear" (Lao Tzu)

...Tonight a homeless young woman approached me at a gas station. She needed a ride to a shelter upstate. She said she was kicked out by her ex-boyfriend. She said she hasn't eaten in 3 days. She needed a place to stay. She looked desperate.


As she talked to me, I caught myself thinking if she was going to rob me. I missed half of what she was saying because my mind was cowardly thinking of ways to protect myself if she tried to hurt me. 

I could not overcome the fear. I gave her 20 dollars and left. I knew this money won't get her a place to stay, but in my head it was justified. 
How many people out there just need someone to give them a hand before they reach a point of no return? May be tomorrow this desperate woman will hurt someone because there is no other way for her to survive. 
How many times do you have to be rejected before you turn against everyone and become a criminal? 
I really don't know. May be she lied about everything and went to get drugs with the money I gave her. May be she was honest. I just know that I had the ability to help, but I didn't...