The yellow flag was out in the open. From my perspective, everyone in the room should have seen it coming. As the conversation unfolded, the color and intensity of the flag became more and more clear. As the anticipated explosion unfolded, I was transfixed. Why could I see something, and they could not?
In the days which followed, the question and explanation has unfolded as a lesson which extends beyond this one-time event.
Being able to see if a gift. If one can see what others cannot, one should use the insights with care. I found that when I started with care and kindness, my approach to what I could see morphed from a hammer to a friendly arm around the shoulder and a willingness to help. The important reminder is a reality that I may not always see. Using my insights as if I was the receiver changed what followed.
When one uses one’s experience for good, one’s line of sight can become a shared vision with endless opportunities. In my case, it required a humble approach, a willingness to see what others could see in addition to my view, and a spirit of collaboration. The challenge began within, not without.
Recognizing good and bad, what builds up along with what tears down, if used in a shared and collaborative way, establishes a foundation one can build on. This is more that facts. It is going beyond the data to the emotional heart. One may need to call out the psalm, “all the men and women who belittle you, God, infatuated with cheap god-imitations.” (Psalm 139.20). On the other hand, one may need to lift others up so s/he can heal.
My lesson reminder came through a lens of care and kindness. This created the awareness of what I should do in the moment. It is easy to let myself fall into a confrontational, no-win, adversarial situation. In letting others help me see beyond my vision, I can avoid traps and new opportunities emerge. In sharing, seeing together, the impossible can be within our reach.
