The Power of Friendship
I was chatting with a friend today, and they are having a rough time, and feeling very much unlike themselves. Up and down... slight depression... things that are so very unlike this person it is amazing that they recognize them when they are happening to them. They were really struggling, and all I could think of was "I've been here! I know this!"
Which reminded me of this scene in The West Wing between Josh and Leo, who said:
This guy's walking down a street, when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up "Hey you! Can you help me out?" The doctor writes him a prescription, throws it down the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole! Our guy says "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here!" and the friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out." As long as I got a job, you got a job, you understand me?
I told my friend, "Hey, I've been here for years, and I know my way around this hole. Trust me - I've got your back. It'll be OK."
And for the first time since I was kicked out, I felt that all that I had been through was worth it. Every horrible day - worth it. Because I could help my friend.
Amen