From Helpless to Helpful
April 1st, 2008 Perry SandovalI just revisited an old story about some poor Joe that couldn’t walk. His family or friends would drop him (sometimes literally) on the street near a popular place to beg. I know that there are some “beggars” in New York city that make a pretty decent living by “pan-handling.” But he was not one of those.
I can’t imagine that his life was all that great. Some people looked down on him, judged, and criticized him openly. His lively-hood depended on the economy and the kindness of strangers. But I keep thinking about his heart, his soul. What would it be like to be unable to choose where you go each day and to know that you cannot be of help and will never be able to be of help. You are helpless. You are a “burden” to society. I imagine that day after day of this kind of a life would cause you to slump into a mental funk of hopelessness. Cynicism would become your friend. How could you avoid adopting a victim mentality?
Then one day two guys came along and, as usual, he begs for money. This is a popular place and these guys have been here before. But today, they “see” him. Really see him. They grab the guy and stand him on his feet. Miraculously he walks. Filled with elation he shouts and screams and just generally disturbs the peace. He’s excited.
Today, I focused on a completely different aspect of the story. Instead of focusing on the miracle I focused on the future. In a sliver of time this man’s future changed. He could now pursue his purpose in life with vigor and mobility. For the first time he could visit friends or, if he chose sales, visit customers. He could raise cattle or farm. He could make stuff to sell.
Thank God I’m not in his pre-miracle position! Or am I? Are you? Is there some mental-block that is keeping you from pursuing your passion for life? Maybe you believe that you’re completely dependent on your boss or parents or the welfare system to be able to live. What if today, not tomorrow, but today, you just decided that you would at least start looking for a better way. You might say, “I don’t have the courage.” Pretend that you do! If you had the courage what would you do? Has it been so long since you’ve allowed yourself to dream or fantasize that you don’t even know what your passions are anymore?
I hope with all my heart that you have more to look forward to than the weekend, or the next one-night stand, or the next great meal. It seems to me that genius has less to do with your actual intelligence than with the having the guts to follow your passions. Years and years ago I heard an interview with Mariah Carey. The interviewer asked Mariah what she would do if her career didn’t progress any further. Mariah responded with something like, “I just love to sing. Even if I had to wait tables I would still sing.” There’s a person pursuing her passion. She did not sing for stardom. She sang to realize her passion.
Do you have something inside you that just compels you forward? Or did you take a job because of the money but you hate the work? I’m discovering and rediscovering my passion for life. I’m learning new ways to plan and to pursue my passions. I hope you will too.