Eric, I know how you feel very well. It is disheartening to know someones choices will prevent them from pulling out of the hole they are in. Long term solutions require greater resources but also require the one in need to make the decisions to change. I learned long ago that throwing money at a problem can sometimes do more harm than good. If a drunk runs the story by me that he needs a couple of bucks to buy food I'll go buy him the food instead of giving money. Next time we talk bring this up as I have some ideas that might help.

I'd quite honestly be more worried if you weren't worn out. It would mean that you didn't care at all.

I admire your strength in doing your part to help carry out this ministry. That would wear me out also, because the real solutions to their problems require so much more than you can possibly give. Keep up the good work. :-)

Bob, I surely agree with you in principle, but sometimes what we're throwing is not money but a lifeline to a drowning person. We do take care to be good and discerning stewards of the finances God's placed in our care, but if we err, it's on the side of mercy.

Rachel, that's a wise observation. Burnout and cynicism are real dangers for folks who do this work more frequently than I do.

Gwynne, thanks for the encouraging words. I don't feel strong, at all, but God seems to do his best work when that's the case.

Eric, it is tiring. I've been involved with a food pantry and have a close relationship with people who do this day in and day out. It's a lifeline that gets thrown that does make a difference. A lot of our people are "working poor" and need assistance because of health, jobs, etc. that have caused a setback. It can be very disheartening visiting these people, but good is done through angels like yourself, looking at the unfortunate and seeing the face of God.

Guy, I'm sure that your experience has revealed that one danger is in letting the inevitable few who are just trying to game the system color the way you perceive all the others. We have a lot of checks and balances at work in our system to ferret out the most egregious offenders, but at some point it becomes a matter of basic judgment and trust.