A Couple Of Lessons Learned
For a couple of weeks I haven’t written. I’ve been in a small “funk” and just haven’t been willing to document the sadness. I have in the past, but this episode I chose not to do so. Makes me think of the lessons I haven’t written down that are lost with time and bad recollection of events.
Earlier today I left my building to do a small errands. I greeted a guy on the street in the local dialect and he replied in Spanish. I asked if he was Filipino and he kept replying in Spanish. I haven’t spoken Spanish in years and was too good at it back then, so it’s even worse now, but we did have a brief conversation. During our talk, I discovered he was in need. I told him I had to take care of something and would be back momentarily. He waited and when I returned a few minutes later we continued our talk.
He was stranded in Cebu City, trying to get back to Manila. He was here on a work visa and his ATM wasn’t working. I let him know I didn’t have much but would help as best as I was able. I went upstairs to my condo and made a couple of calls. One guy didn’t answer and the other said no. I helped with what I could spare, which seemed inadequate, and we both parted ways.
The episode didn’t sit well with me so I reached out to one of the guys I’ve befriended and ran it past him. As he was going over a few things, some lessons were revealed.
One was to pay attention to my inner voice. When I’m compelled to act or not act, listen and obey. Another lesson was some occasions will be bigger than what I can do alone. I may need to ask others for assistance. Some will render aide, others will not. Whether they help or not is not my concern, my concern and my part is asking for help when needed. A third lesson as I’ve been typing is we aren’t all compelled for the same reasons or by the same things. Just because I was compelled to assist a stranger doesn’t mean or obligate others to help. That’s between them and their Creator, the same as it is for myself.
I hadn’t written this morning. I hadn’t written for any mornings over the last few weeks. I’ve been stalled out. I’d like to be able to say I’ve grown complacent or the lists had become mechanical in nature, but the truth of the matter is I didn’t feel compelled to write.
I’ve been in need of more assistance. I’ve been reluctant to ask. I’ve been doing the research. I’ve been planning. I’ve crunched and re-crunched the numbers and they are accurate. It’s abundantly clear that I perform better when I’m under no financial pressure. I require a bit of a reprieve to fulfill my mission. I will require the assistance of others. I will ask. Some will say yes. Others will say no. My part is to ask. The answers can not come if the question is never presented.
Today, Wednesday, September 25, 2024, I am grateful that: