Do It Anyway
Do It Anyway
Some time ago my wife and I were returning home after enjoying dinner out with friends. We left the restaurant around 9:30 and were on the way to drop our friends off at their home.
At one point, we stopped at a traffic light behind a car we had been following. As the light turned, the car in front of us did not move. We sat through a second light change and the car remained in place. I was concerned that perhaps the individual may be having a mechanical issue or some type of physical problem so I decided to check in. As I approached the car, the driver put the window down, and I graciously inquired to see what the problem might be. In anger, the driver yelled at me, “Yes, I do have a problem, there is a dumb @#$%!& following me!” and sped away.
Shocked and dumbfounded, I went back to the car and told the others about the brief conversation. None of us could think of anything I had done to cause such a response.
My motives were genuine in wanting to help but I felt I was misunderstood. I wanted to clear things up but that was not possible.
Truth be known, when I believe my motives are right and then they are misunderstood or even rejected I have a tendency to want to pull back and wall myself off from that person or a similar situation. It is at those times I think of the encouragement found in the Paradoxical Commandments written by Dr. Kent Keith to “do it anyway”.
I will admit that ever since that evening, when there is an opportunity to provide assistance (especially to stranger), I think about my brief conversation with that driver and remind myself to “do it anyway”.
Well written, Daryl.
Appreciated the thoughtful challenge.
Another possible lesson is reflecting on how easy it is for any of use to assign perceived reasons and motives to actions of another. Though totally wrong, when we act of such self assigned motives to actions of another….bad things usually happen. The driver of the car in front of you assigned some fault to you. Unfounded though it was, he acted on it and nothing good came of it. Next I worry whether or not there was a weapon in his car? It’s dangerous out there. Contemplating what to do in such situations is indeed and increasing paradox.