We are curious animals. We wrap ourselves into others' lives. Even the most well-meaning can get caught up in drama. We demand answers. We grapple with understanding. When things don't make sense to us, we get angry or confused.
Sometimes we are so caught up, we forget what is important.
There is a Zen proverb that says: "If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are."
In other words, things are - as in, exist - whether we understand them or not.
Sometimes life is perplexing. We cannot wrap our heads around the what or why or how. But, you know what? It doesn't matter. Because things are whether we want them to be, or not.
What the heck is she talking about? Why doesn't she just get to the point?
The Point
Many people who were caught up in the drama of Melanie Gould's disappearance expressed anger and a self-righteous, need-to-know, deserve-to-know attitude when she recently emerged from the wilderness along the Denali highway in Alaska after being gone for 11 days. How could she have abandoned her dogs? they judged. What kind of person traipses into the wildness and abandons everything? they exclaimed.
They made demands: She should pay for all the time and effort spent searching for her.
They qualified her actions: How could she have seen troopers searching for her and evaded them?
They became angry. They attacked.
Face it: we don't know the story.
The story I do know - and one that scares me - is that within a little over a week, 3,200 people joined a Facebook page set up to show support for and help track down Melanie Gould.
When she was found alive and in relatively good physical condition, however, some of those same 3,200 people turned on her, demanding answers. It seems we are more satisfied with grisly outcomes than happy endings. Some actually said she should have stayed missing - they were that angry that she was found alive and in decent physical condition.
Wow.
As quickly as some will run to your rescue when you fall, when you get back up on your feet, they'll rip you limb from limb.
Do we like seeing others' demise?
Is human nature that twisted, sadistic and deviant? Do we have a sick fascination with watching others suffer? Receive a satisfaction from the pain of others?
Really?
I feel like Alice in Wonderland here, but, not in my world.
Why, in my world, we celebrate life. We are happy to receive each day as a blessing. We don't need to know why.
It's called Karma. Gratefulness. Gratitude.
There is a Zen Proverb: "If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your own path."
In Christianity, it's known as "The Golden Rule." Do unto others as you would have ...
In my world, I say welcome home, Melanie Gould. Haters need not enter here. This is a safe zone.
There may be things to sort out, but for now, rest. Be safe. And...
A big thumbs up! Where there is life, there is hope. Let us always have the courage to look. We are only foolish if we look for what we know does not exist. In all other cases, the search is useful, whatever the outcome, and let us always have the courage to seek, unafraid of those who ridicule the search, and unafraid of those who timidly sit on their hands, never searching. When we look for a friend, we show faith in a friendship, and courage in the hope that the friendship is still alive. When we find the friend, instead of being critical of the friend for being away alone, we should ask ourselves, why was I not at my friend's side?
ReplyDeleteVery well put, Shannon.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Very well said! Glad she was found and is alive.
ReplyDelete