But what about the angry man who interrupts my church service and aggressively refuses the things offered him.

What about the person who has lied to me and forgotten they've already tried their scheme and story on me.

What about the drunk... the lazy father... the careless mother...

I often wonder when does helping become the taboo of "enabling".

Surely you have faced this conundrum in Katherine. Especially on the weekends when all the services and helps are closed.

Perhaps you've given up, gotten "wiser/harder/less naive".

There are twin dangers here. Of using these cases to justify never giving, never helping - basically to excuse my own selfishness.

The other danger is a real one in Katherine. Of forgetting that all of us are on the take. None of us has pure motives - not the asker, not the asked. Just because you have material things doesn't mean you have morality and vice versa.

Still Jesus' words haunt me: give to everyone who asks you, not expecting a return.

St Paul's Anglican Church meets on Sundays at 9am with kids church. All welcome.