Recently I had coffee with a casual friend. I say “casual” because it’s not quite fair to call him a “friend” or a “close friend” yet when we meet, we enjoy each other’s company. We connected a few years back through a mutual interaction with an organization. In our initial conversations, I, the older of the two of us, was giving advice, but through the years, we’ve found mutual moments of help.
Sharing with him reminded the value of community and our shared existence. When we first met, I, in essence, gave him a hand up through a situation. Why do that? I didn’t really know this person well at the time. In fact, why help anyone out? Some would argue that helping another is a sign of weakness, or at least making yourself vulnerable. All to the contrary, I would offer that helping another provides you an investment with that person.
Your hand out now provides a good reason for that person to help you out in the future. Sam and Frodo, of Lord of the Rings fame demonstrate that well in Peter Jackson’s rendering of the famous story. Take a look:
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Did you catch it? Maybe you don’t know the story well enough, but the first clip comes at the moment Frodo decides he must go on with the quest alone. He is intending to make the perilous journey without endangering anyone else. It is the mark of a strong person, confident in their abilities. Yet, it is also typically an unwise move, a person unaware of the limitation of their abilities.
Fast forward about seven months and we see the weakness of Frodo, almost incapable of taking another step. Now Sam, previously the weaker of the two, finds himself in the position to offer the hand up. If Sam doesn’t feel the need to return the favor of a hand, pulling his friend to safety, then the quest fails.
As we roll in the early months of 2012, look to see where you can build community. Perhaps, in your new classes this semester, you can offer a hand of help to a classmate; perhaps you have already had this professor and provide guidance. Maybe you have the ability to help share a car ride to school with a new student.
In your workplace, look around to consider whom you can assist—is there a new employee who needs a helping hand to really get the hang of the job? Is there a new neighbor who has moved into your apartment building or neighboring house? Why not go welcome them into your world with a helping hand in the moving, or in some other way.
Like Frodo, though you may feel strong right now, in the future, it could be you who needs some help. Make that investment now by helping another. Not only could that person be your salvation later, offering your help is just a powerful concept.