Monday, February 25, 2008

A Big, Mean, Cynical Buoy

There are times in all of our lives when we feel completely alone. Not in a good, wandering-down-the-beach-at-sunset-solo kind of way. But like the world has turned on us. Like no one understands us and we are swimming in a sea of disdain and judgment.

These are the times we need a friend the very most. We need a friend to throw a life preserver our way and drag our weakened bodies through the tides so we do not drown.

Sometimes that life preserver takes the form of commiseration. Sometimes it becomes rage. Sometimes it merely shapes itself into a shoulder to cry on. But without it, without that friend's attempt to rescue us, we would sink.

I have tried to save my water-treading friends in different ways throughout the years. But often the only way to help—at least when they reach their most feeble state—is to jump in and swim next to them. Subjecting my own self to scrutiny and scorn. Sometimes the only thing that keeps a person going is knowing they have an ally at their side in the water.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Walk, walk, walk to the water
Walk with me awhile
Walk, walk, walk to the roadside
walk with me in a light

A room in the Royal hotel
With sea facing views
A man with a suitcase
Full of things he doesn't need
I'm looking through your window
I'm walking through your doorway
I'm on the outside
Let me in
-Paul Hewson

Anonymous said...

Having someone in your court when you are going through a hard time, whatever it may be, can mean the world to the person who is going through it. I can from experience tell you that having friends to give you support and stand by your side make it seem like there is a light at the end of the tunnel when your whole world can seem to be crashing down on you. I just hope that I can be as good a friend when my friends and family need me. I would do anything for them including "jumping in and swimming next to them." God we could even start our on synchronized swim team at some point...