IN A DARK WOOD!

I guess it doesn’t happen to everyone. I am thinking, How sad for them, especially if they have a great need. It’s really one of those moments frozen in time. I’ve seen it happen to many of my friends. Others, sadly enough, never get there.

It has been put this way: In the middle of my journey of life, I found myself in a dark wood where I had lost the right path. Eventually, I would find the right path, but it was in a most unlikely place (Dante).

That is such an absolutely profound statement if it fits you. It’s sad that my reaction to Dante left me with an F in World Lit. I became so frustrated at one of those moments frozen in time—in a dark wood; I just got up and walked out of class. I did not check our properly. I was just through: period. How do you spell F. (Minus 3 grade points for life).

All that cost me, besides the GPA, was time and money. Of course, don’t be silly: Yes, I had to retake the course. How could I let a guy who lived in the 1200 & 1300’s effect me so much? How could I appreciate him so much today? We humans do some very strange things, don’t we?

It must come at a Teachable Moment somewhere in life. That usually happens to many folks when there is no where else to turn. It happened to Patch Adams in the Fairfax County Hospital Psychiatric Ward. He found he could connect with people. He could help. He observed the supposed people helpers actually were quite ineffective (a nicer way of saying it than Patch). At a moment frozen in time he found the right path. He decided to become a medical doctor so he could help people

I did much the same thing. Finding myself somewhat unwanted in my present capacity, all of a sudden I was in a dark wood. Patch waited until his 40’s. I’ve waited much later. But I believe in what I’m doing. At a moment frozen in time I found myself in a dark wood and I made my decision to go back to school. What an unlikely place to find myself and loving every minute of it.

I swore I would never do that: No way! I had frankly had enough of all that. Now I find myself in a wonderland of paradise. A paridisical wonderland! I am able to continue (for the moment) the part of what I was doing that I loved so much and to learn to be more effective at the same time. But, I have never stopped learning. I believe one must weigh the importance of things. At my age, is it worth it all? A resounding yes! Ask Ed, who is in one of my classes and is 20 years my senior. I know it’s a race against time. Will I make it? (Just a note: I think Ed might be in better shape than I am).

You see, People are just that important. If I can improve myself in any way to help one person, I will do that. God made me that way. Do you know what? God made us all that way. I want to be able to connect with people in an even more effective way.

How about you? Are you in that dark wood? Are you in need of something new and, and I might add, better and different? Look at yourself. Write to me. We’ll explore that one together. I promise. h