November 8, 2004
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A support group bulletin board that I frequent has descended into petty squabbles, causing some people to get so angry that they threaten to leave. Hard for me to fathom. I wrote and posted this as a way to make my point about relative importance of friendships in our lives.
On passing by I noticed him
A stranger looking on
A stranger to the quick glance
On fleeting thought unknown
On passing by I paused to look
A chance encounter this
A meeting that fate would play
On this my hurried way
On passing by, a chance near lost
A tragic loss indeed
A stranger who’s not strange at all
On this life’s winter eve
On passing by this humble soul
A mirrored look of me
A friend thought lost
On troubled journey this
On passing by I gained to stop
A precious gift of life
A life of mine defined
On this the part of my whole
On passing by, praise be, I noticed him
For he is a friend of mine.
Comments (6)
How timely in our world for this sentiment to be put forth. Blessings abound
it is sad, isn't it? how petty stuff can pop up even in places where it's so obvious that there are more important issues in life.
it passes by too quickly.
i know.
This has a very Dickinsonian quality to it, and I've always loved Dickinson. Knowing the context makes it all the more poignant. I think when people are facing an unknown (whether, in the case of the boards I frequented once, it's new motherhood; or, as in your case, potentially very serious health issues; or even some other much less important hobby or interest) people tend to get fixated on their solution, whatever that might be and however well-grounded in research, or experience, or objective reality it is. And then, having found their road, some of them turn into crusaders for their road, forgetting that in the process of finding it they passed by many another well-traveled, well-populated potential route.
It's sad that people can't appreciate each other's differences and discuss them rationally. It's also axiomatic that it's a lot easier to write that axiom than live it!
Your poem is wonderful, and I hope some of the crusaders among your community take time to reflect on it.
Your poem is wonderful. I especially appreciate it because you make your point without preaching (something I have a very difficult time achieving!). I've been a part of a couple different boards and real life groups that were wounded by squabbling. I offer you this {HUG} and the hope that the squall may blow over soon.
Are you okay? I mean I disappear sometimes for weeks on end, but I'm weird that way and just expect people to indulge me.
Just wanted you to know I popped in to see what was up. 
Reminds me (oddly, I guess) of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," that wonderful book by Mitch Albom that turned up Sunday night as a TV movie on ABC. Nice work here. (And nice work, Mitch!
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