The Expansion of The Venn

Written on December 15th, 2020

Ruth, why help people? Abraham Twerski once said, we love to whom we give. We saw a part of ourselves in that person, thus we invested what we have to them. And yet sometimes, if not often, we expect something in return. We get disappointed when our effort has been lost for nothing. Whether we make mistake along the way or any reason that makes it goes away. If that happens, I get disappointed, does it mean that I expect something when trying to help? If I expect something, does that mean, it cancels the love I had to those I tried to help?

Then again, Ruth. What do I have in mind at that time? I root for that person, I wish for the best, I think they deserve some helping hand to get out of a quick sand, I want to be the help, the answer to the people I love. And it pains me that I don’t have the ability to help. That I can do nothing to support the people, friends, whom I love.

Though I have told you how I struggle with it around this date and month, maybe like 10th of December, I now have learned to accept my personal limitations. That there are no way I could possess all kinds of resources to be helpful. It is good, if not better to know that there are certain areas of knowledge of information which I don’t know. It might be better so I don’t become too proud and full of myself, hence lost the ability to collaborate with people, have respect, and remind myself that I am not the center of the universe.

Though I may or may not be able to help, it doesn’t really matter. People understand well what’s in your power to help and which are not.

Ruth, have you ever imagine that friendship is like a venn diagram with two world or more, have elements that intersects with each other? When I didn’t know some stuff, it feels like, so much of my elements does not belong in that intersection. So little of my elements actually relate to those whom I love. There are also times when I feel very well understood, but there are a bigger part, a really bigger part, of my friends that are outside of this intersection.

It made me think that maybe, just maybe, that I am but a simple man, who is lacking and poor of understanding and wisdom. Ruth, what do you think of me? There are also a bigger part of you that I don’t understand well. And yet we love each other still.

Ruth, thankyou again for reminding me, that yes, friendship might not always find itself understanding the bigger part beyond this little intersection. Yes, why would, nay, should it be a problem? Friendship, friends, mostly spend their time together in that intersection anyway. Should we be apart with lack of understanding beyond that, that is not something to feel unfortunate about. I’d rather be grateful to find such comfort inside this intersection, and that I could always find my friend inside. Of course not 24/7 don’t be silly. But at the time that counts, they’re there. Isn’t that lucky?

Ruth, I am happy, that I, this simple man is inside your universe. That you know every grain of my elements. That you covers me, surrounds me completely. I hope one day, this simple man could expand himself and understand a bit more of the bigger part of you.

I shall attend to my friends for a while now. It’s nice talking with you. Shall we continue at the earliest convenience?

Yours truly,