What Manner of Man: Week 5 - Valleys and Peaks

Recently I’ve been thinking about how good and bad are often so closely linked.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-wooden-dock-surrounded-with-green-grass-near-mountain-under-white-clouds-and-blue-sky-at-daytime-808465/

And I am not the only one to observe this or feel this way:

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of time” -A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Inside Out (movie by Disney’s Pixar) clearly shows how we can’t have joy without sorrow.

Which may explain why these words from Week 5 of Richard M Eyer’s What Manner of Man stood out to me:

There was no conflict between the Lord’s happiness and his sorrow. Both came from the same great capacity to feel, the same breadth of sensitivity. (The ocean, with enough sweep and depth for great tempests, also has room for sunny calms, with a range and horizon that no small pool can know.) (p22)

Having recently been on the ocean for a cruise to Mexico, I can personally testify that the ocean does have immense sweep, and that both calm and tempests can be found there. And, having that beautiful, restorative trip end with my phone being snatched out of my hand on the train in LA, I can also testify that life is full of valleys and peaks. That we can, and will, feel many emotions.

While my reactions were very different, having my phone taken from me made me think about when my bike was stolen several years ago.

In both cases, I felt a loss of security as well as property, one that left me interacting with the world differently, more cautious and even fearful of people.

Also in both cases, I had incredible people who helped me. 

After my bike was stolen one friend of mine organized a Go Fund Me and many people contributed to allow me to get my means of transportation back. Even years later I am still so grateful when I get on my bike to each person who helped make that possible.

On the train in LA a stranger offered to let me use his phone to call 911 (I didn’t take him up on that, partially because I was in shock and didn’t know what to do, but I was truly grateful for the offer, just knowing someone cared and wanted to help was powerful).

Then, when I got off the train at the next stop to talk to transit officials and figure out what to do, a kind soul got off the train with me and helped me.

He knew things I didn’t, like what stop we were at when my phone was snatched and about what time it happened. He was near home so also knew where a library was to use their wi-fi to contact the friend I was on the way to see. He also went with me to report the theft and sat with me in the Sheriff’s office for hours while the right people were summoned and the forms were filled out.

He did not have to do any of those things. But I am so grateful he did.

We all have opportunities to decide what kind of person we will be. Opportunities to be with people in their valleys and to help people ascend to peaks that seem impossible while in the valley.