Inspired, Touched, Grateful
My friend Shirley is back home from looking after her brother Gilbert, who suddenly became very ill during a business trip in a country away from his home. She had been away, bed side praying for her brother, attending to him, away from her son, away from home, living day to day, for about a year.
Today, in her usual subdued, humble nature, Shirley said hi to me. I knew she she was back in her home a few weeks ago and I imagined that she must have been exhausted, overwhelmed, perhaps feeling disoriented, alone in the sense that she left her brother in a hospital bed approximately 12,550km away. I was happy to hear her voice. I felt inspired by her dedication and sacrifices, touched by her faith, and grateful to be one among her friends.
She shared with me. I imagined what she has been through immersed in a different culture, in different languages than that we speak among ourselves, different procedures and practices in the hospital where her brother has been. Looking for help. Overwhelmed by grief, sadness, frustration, and yet dutiful to her brother and ever resourceful looking for practical short-term and long-term solutions. Her brother peacefully fighting to get better, conscious, yet unable to communicate, vulnerable, faithful.
I listened. I was sad and also happy that she was on the line. The last time that I saw her and her family was two days before her brother became ill about a year ago. My older son and I visited and in particular, were very impressed by my friend's young son's talent, intelligence, kindness, and creativity. He showed us an incredible project that he was working on, not for school, for interest. Shirley and her family, have accompanied me in my journey, in particular, in the darkest hours. After our visit, Shirley left immediately to look after her brother via another country where she had to arrange paperwork to be able to cross the border and be with her brother. I was grateful that she stayed in touch and on some occasions, we prayed together over the distance. I have kept her and her brother and overall family in my prayers with my boys. I was also grateful that our community prayed for them.
Today's conversation evolved into thinking of opportunities to move forward and in doing so, Shirley gave me the gift of her attention and I was full of life. I relieved that decades ago, we met at a conference in Winnipeg and formed the foundation of our friendship in thinking about possibilities to make a contribution to the advancement of creative industries in the part of the world that she represented as an investment official. Shortly after, we pursued an opportunity and met in Montreal to discuss our plan in an life changing meeting. It worked. And so it began. I packed my family -my older boy was a few months old- and moved about 12,550km to be immersed in the creativity of the amazing people that I met. I was blown away by the energy, dedication, thirst and hunger of the people to do something interesting, relevant, that others will appreciate. I was immersed in a culture of doers for whom nothing seemed impossible. The experience changed my life in many ways, professionally, personally spiritually, and in my overall perspective of the world and life. I had so many amazing experiences, remarkable memories, incredible humble people and a never-ending stream of action items to make contributions. It all began with my friend and in particular at that meeting in Montreal. Thank you friend. You made me life amazing.
I eventually had to leave all that adventure and come back home because my son had grown up and I realized that he needed my attention more than ever. I felt guilty for having so much career oriented fun at the expense of spending time with him. I began again career-wise and with the inspiration and inertia of my prior adventure, I was able to build and build and support and support. Until, I became ill, which is the topic of this journal.
I relived that adventure because Shirley and I spoke in our call of the compelling opportunity to help Gilbert, my friend, and fraternal brother, with research and development initiatives involving our collective efforts, networks, work and persistence. We both don't seem to know the meaning of the world "no" and we don't seem to be albe to turn down an opportunity to contribute. In our conversation, I dreamt of being back. I visualized the meetings that had to take place; the faces of the people that we would need to talk to; the to-do list; the trips across the border to see friends that have been amazing in supporting the crazies ideas; the presentations; the documents; the demonstrations; the letters; the new lab and the new staff that we would need to bring. I was alive! I felt very energized, productive, useful, relevant, in a way that I haven't felt since December 19, 2019.
Yes, Shirley has the power of an angel. I was inspired, touched, and grateful. I think of her and I know that her brother Gilbert will be ok and that God is guiding her and the hands of the doctors attending to her brother. Thank you both for being my friends. I am humbled to be among your friends.
