What does wisdom look like? I don't know, but I think I'm finding out.
There's this young man, of no fixed abode, whom my husband and I have been helping out for about a year. He has many good qualities, yes, really, but yesteray he was arrested at my house, by two police officers whom I invited here for the purpose, because he's suspected of stealing from an elderly couple that I had introduced him to.
A sleepless night ensued, going over what he may have done, of my role in the unfolding tragedy, understanding that everything goes belly-up in the end, but wishing, and here you will know and understand that I am NOT a good person, oh yes, wishing, that it hadn't happened on my watch ... .
Now I am listening to a Dharma talk by Jack Kornfield and he's saying:
"I will not get caught up in your melodrama, but I will love you."
Its sad that you had to go through that. Sounds like you tried to help him out. :( Poor kid, poor you. Darn!
ReplyDeleteIt's necessary suffering. For him, who is losing himself to addiction, for my elderly friend who will be praying for him, and for me: if I don't hold out a helping hand because it might be bitten, I have no sense of purpose. And no foundation for happiness.
ReplyDeleteIt's a crappy situation to be in because what else was there to do? To protect him but do the couple wrong? I think teaching people that we are ultimately responsible for our own actions is a huge thing that we all have to learn while we're on earth.
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