Indiscretions

The Angel's Tear

"An unworthy Man who had laughed at the woes of a woman whom he
loved, was bewailing his indiscretion in sack-cloth-of-gold and
ashes-of-roses, when the Angel of Compassion looked down upon him,
saying:

"Poor mortal! - how unblest not to know the wickedness of laughing
at another's misfortune!"

So saying, he let fall a great tear, which, encountering in its
descent a current of cold air, was congealed into a hailstone. This
struck the unworthy man on the head and set him rubbing that bruised
organ vigorously with one hand while vainly attempting to expand an
umbrella with the other.

Thereat the Angel of Compassion did most shamelessly and wickedly
laugh."



Every now and again we cross paths with someone who absolutely
adores wallowing in misery. So consumed by it they have nothing else
to offer into a conversation. So the misery spreads. People toss out
challenges and venomous words and others in turn join in the game.
It is a rare thing to find someone who will listen to the ratings of
another without ranting themselves. When we encounter someone who is
filled with negativity we often find ourselves feeling very negative
with no good reason why.

There are many things wrong in the world. Disease, war, death,
trauma, crime, and one of the most common are simple relationship
issues. When love turns it can be a very sour medicine to swallow.
People get hurt and people die. Best friends can easily become
bitter enemies.

With all the things that can affect us directly I am often in wonder
why some people get all worked up over something that does not
affect their lives at all.

I watched a bitter man enter into a conversation, directing his
words at no one in particular, and I watched the reactions of those
who were looking on. In their "great wisdom" no one asked the man
where his rage and bitterness towards the world was coming from.
Instead they laughed at him, tossed out rude remarks, fought, and
ultimately he left. Yet after he was gone the bitterness, hate, and
anger remained and everyone who was once happy was fighting about
the most ridiculous of things.

I sent an IM to the man who had started it all and asked him why he
was so upset. A few moments passed before he responded and when he
did he asked me "Why do you give a shit?"

I told him I didn't. Which is why I was able to ask.
As it turns out he had lost his wife to cancer last week. The pain
of that had consumed him and at the moment pain was all he knew.
He had lost his wife to cancer. And those who claimed to be wise saw
nothing more than a mad man and joined in his madness. No one saw
past their own aggressions, their own pains. And in turn they all
fell with him. For no reason at all but to fall. But in the end they
claimed wisdom.

It was a good lesson to learn but none of them learned it. They were
too busy rubbing their own heads in pain; never wonder what just hit
them.



Angel Snowden-2006