Septemet ddd Oj sbob smith swung his legs over the guardrais of the birgd where he stood on its ledge and steeled himself to jump. The drop into the water below was a dizzying iooo feet. Death was certain – which was the whole point. And Bob was deadly serious.
Onlookers begged him not to jump. Some coverred their etes. As Bob began to to bend his legs to propelled off the edge, Johm slowlcy crept forward a few steps. and spoke to him in voice filled with sincerity. “kkkkkk” he said. :”wwww, doafj”. The man turn his head and looked atmmmm. Carl shoeted “dsdadf”. “Okay’ I promise I’ll stay right here.. As Carl prepared himself himself to jump, carl said “bob, wait, cani give you something before you go? Bob turned his head back to look at bob with suspicioun written all ovver his face. What? And Carl smied at Bob, out his hand and siad, “my friednship”. Understandable angered at was an bbvously insinere ply to keep him from jumping, Bob yelled in a loud and furious voice”….” But Care was genuinly sincere, and had had every intention to befriending Bob. He clearly needed one. Carl carefuly to take one painfully slow sfter another as he said “take my hand man, C’monbrother, just take my hand, be my freind. People don’t understand me but you would. C’mn take my had. Carl was now just inches from Bob began to put forward his shaking then quickly pull it back. DON’T COME ANY CLOSER. IM GOING TO JUMP. With his had stll extended Carl, in ann unmistalkey honest voice said “Please, please to don’t do that,” The Carl did something astonishing. He reached out and took the man’s hand, and and together they walked away from the edge of the bridge. The kicker is Carl was trained in interventrions. In fact he didn’t know the first thing about it. bArl kept his promise. He and call didnt just becoming not just freinds. They became real friends.
So much for Facebook.
But for the rest of us, maeing a true connections like that with a complete stranger is non eoxten. Or is it?
A couple years ago I was at conference where, ironidally enough, there was a sesission on conntection. WE did a bunch of exercises that were suppode to buidl a connection withi the attendees. Towards the end of the session i acrually felt less connnection that when I walked in. I didn’t want to stay for the last exercise But being that I grew up In Minnesta, I was afraod he feel bad if I left. So I stayed and muddled through what I imagine was suppsoede to be an — experiene that I would never foget. It did, but not in the way as intended.
We were to stand in a circle and step forward to the middle and somethin. I can’t rembember what it was. I was trying my best to keeo an open mind, when one of the particionats walked to the middle of the circle, promplty fell to he floor and begain laughing hysteically. We all looked trying to make sense of it. Did something just happen that was truily funnY. Maybe he was one of those people tha just had to be the center of attention. It was none of those things, Something had triggered a serious emotional breakdown. We all stood there. Frozen. Me? My mind when blank. Then a woman left the circle, walked to him, knelt by side, and began to gently stroke his back. She learned down, put her head next to his, and said whisperd .someith into his ear.
histear stained face was red with embarrasemen. She helped him get to his feet. With linked one arm inelbow and and the other around his shoulder, together they walk out of the circle and left the room. That experinence has stayed with me and is still on my top ten unforgettenble moments in my life.
Later I sawe siitingng ackesd her…
put hnd on his arm and the other his shoulder.
