Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Help (Not) Wanted

I want to help.

I'm a helper, a nurturer. I always want to try to fix things, to take action to resolve the problem - kind of man like, now that I think of it.

Sometimes though, there is nothing for me to do. I've got nothing to offer, no skill, no words, no small kindnesses to give that will make any difference at all.

And this kills me. Inaction is not my strong suit. Even when I have the sense to know there is nothing to be done, I feel antsy, anxious, powerless. All the things I don't like to feel.

So there've been times when I've stepped right into the muck with shovel in hand and made things worse in an attempt to make things better. I am learning though. Slowly but surely the lesson is sinking in...

Sometimes, the best course of action is to take a giant step back and wait for the dust to settle.

Especially when one wears a lot of black.

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