On How To Relieve Guilt Without Doing Anything of Substance

This morning I went to Wal-Mart to get some lunch foods. As I was leaving I saw an older man standing on a corner by a stop sign on the way out of the parking lot. I turned around and went back to Wal-Mart and bought him a jar of peanut butter, some granola bars, a pack of water bottles, and some plastic utensils. When I brought it to him, I noticed that someone had given him a cup of coffee from McDonald's. He thanked me for what I gave him and I turned around and left without saying much.

I thought to myself as I drove away "I should have prayed for him." Then I did pray for him.

But I don't know if I really helped him. It seems to me that if you really want to do something for a homeless man, you should take him to a home. Let him take a hot shower and a sink where he can make use of basic hygiene tools. Let him sleep in a warm bed and feed him good food. Make him feel welcome and give him some privacy.

I gave him some food that might last him a few days because I felt guilty. Maybe it relieved my guilt a little, but I don't really feel like I did much for him. He's still in the same state I left him in.