The Wire
October 25, 2009
After a pretty tough week of more midterms (one of which was the most ridiculous exam I have ever taken), being sick, starting my new job, and paying for unexpected bills, I sit here in the coffee house listening to M. Ward, sipping tea, and reflecting on the marvelousness of my life.
For example, my neighbors heard that I wasn’t feeling well, so when they were on their way to walmart they knocked on my door to ask if they could pick up anything for me. Such simple, easy-to-do kind acts can really brighten someone’s day.
It reminds me of when my group counseling class did rope courses. The task was to cross a thin wire by holding onto a vertical rope until half-way, the other half relied on another person extending their hand. One of my classmates, in particular, did not want to do this. However, after seeing everyone else go, he knew that it was possible. As to not let down the team and refusing to acknowledge his grave fear of heights, he quiveringly steps onto the wire. Step by step he progresses towards the middle. However, the rope can soon no longer sustain him and he panics. He becomes paralyzed in distress. The vibration of the wire was on the verge of prompting a fall.
Just then a teammate reaches out her hand. The hand is rather small and unstable, not much reason to trust. Yet, in the midst of panic and anxiety, the simple knowledge that someone was there diminished his fear. The hand never held him up, all it did was guide and encourage. He was able to cross the wire on his own power, with the help of another.
Many life lessons can be applied. However, my brave classmate applied it to counseling. How counselors should simply be there for their clients, be themselves, the encouragers God created them to be, not some expert who can cure all the client’s problems.
Many times people simply need to know that others care about them. Isn’t that what the church is about? Loving each other and sharing God’s love with our neighbors, boss, classmates, the grocery clerk, EVERYONE!
I tend to want to jump in and be “the fixer.” Or I’m too busy in my own world to even notice that someone is struggling. Or I don’t think I can do anything to help.
I’m learning that simple, easy-to-do kind acts can really brighten someone’s day. That’s it. Don’t over-analyze. Just show love. Nothing may happen and you lose nothing. But something incredible may happen and someone may conquer “their wire.”
With love,
Jenny
