Come Here, But Go Away

As human beings we have the odd capacity to have the ability to ask for help and yet at the same time refuse it. I've even observed where people will sometimes "pick and choose" the type of help that we are will to accept. I sometimes refer to this mentality as, "come here, but go away."

This contradiction in behavior largely stems from what we call, "divided-mind." And it's because the mind it so divided (against itself) that we can sometimes continue digging ourselves into a hole, long after we could have stopped. A certain part of our mind may even see that we are doing so, by not accepting help and continue to dig any where.

Thinking about this subject, I recall a story about a person who is caught in a flood. As the water rises, they move higher and higher in the house, until they can no longer stay inside. They climb out onto the roof, praying and pleading for God to save them. As they are out on the roof with the water still rising, a boat comes by and the boat-pilot says "jump in, I'll save you." The person on the roof says, "no, I've prayed to God and he will save me." The water continues to rise and they climb up a litle higher on the roof and another boat comes by and the people shout to get in, so that they can be saved. Again the person firm in their faith say's "no God will save me." The water continues to rise, now almost covering the entire roof. They climb to the very tip, top and a stroke of luck happens. A helicopter appears and drops a line. But the person refuses shouting, "No thanks, God will save me." The waters continue to rise and finally the person dies." When they enter heaven, they meet-up with God and ask, "Why didn't you save me?" God replies, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, but you refused the help."

On one hand the story is kind of funny, but on the other is a very serious point about how we live our life. The only thing it really takes to ask for help is desperation, but what it requires to accept help is often humility (the absence of false pride and ability to know oneself). Instead of saying "come here, but go away," we can express, "come here please and I thank you for your willingness to help me."

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO