“Let my enemies live long to see what I have become.” —West African proverb
The above proverb was also the title of a theater piece I saw many decades ago and its premise is intriguing. For all of those who have tried to hurt me or betray me or limit me or negate me, there is some divine justice in them living long enough to see that they failed, that I kept rising both in outward success and inward clarity as to who I am and what I can offer the world. In whatever community we shared, no one remembers them whereas my work has left a notable legacy.
But there is a touch of snarky revenge if I take too much pleasure in that dynamic. More interesting is that both my “enemies” and I live long enough to suddenly find ourselves on the same side of an important issue and working toward the same end. Both of us realizing that in the end, we were more alike than different and can not only forgive each other our trespasses, but delight in our newly found comradery.
Like any human being, I’ve had my share of such betrayals and disappointments and mostly have moved on to forgiveness, both for my own health and well-being and to offer the kind of truce that time allows. I can only think of one person who I would feel uncomfortable being stuck in an elevator with and out of the thousands I know, that’s not a bad track record. Of course, there are many more that I choose not to be Facebook friends with or invite to a party, but that’s to be expected.
But in the last few months—including yesterday—there are some 4 or 5 people who I now am allied with on an issue we all agree on. And working together to try to right some wrongs. That’s a good feeling.
Who is on your list? How might you reach out to them?
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