“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” – Arthur Ashe

I’m not a big fan of cliches.  They are used too frequently without thought and just products of repetitive statements we use during complex situations that certainly require something of more value and sentiment to the recipient.

I was thinking of one in particular.  “I’m here for you” or “I’m there for you”.  I get the basic gist of it – a simple offering of support and maybe a little more but what should it mean?  I guess I could devote a great deal of analysis to these statements but my evaluation is centered around what I’ve meant when saying it in the past compared to now, and what it’s meant when offered in my direction.

Thinking of when I used to say it, I pretty much meant it literally.  I’d be “here” for someone but they’d have to generally come to where I was if they needed something important.  I was “there” for someone but not really.  I was usually at a safe distance so that I would be unable or unwilling to get “there”.  Not always and maybe not intentionally but in thinking back, too frequently.

In addition, I find little comfort when someone says “I’m there for you” when going through tough times.  I really don’t need a congregation of people at where I’m at since I already know how I got “there” and don’t like where “there” is at.  I may not expect the answers but it won’t help me to have company “there”.  What is needed is a temporary escape from “there” and maybe another mind and set of eyes to show me a possible way to get out of “there” because a cascade of thoughts and emotions sometimes complicates the recognition of the simplest and most logical solutions.

I know, this sounds like a bad comedy bit but here’s the point.  Now when I say “I’m here for you”, it means that when called upon, I will be “there with you.”  I understand that trying to provide a quick solution to a complex dilemma generally leads down a more complex path or at times, proving to be more destructive.  I do know that taking someone from where they may be (figuratively and/or literally), slowing things down, maybe mixing a genuine hug and reason to smile, and letting them be heard so that they can hear themselves on the outside of their mind provides a good starting point to get out of “there”.  This then challenges the best parts of myself by seeing what that person (not me) is capable of doing and offering small guidance about what might be done to slowly take their initial steps somewhere else.  Importantly they will know that if needed, I will support and help them up (not carry) when they stumble and fall.  More importantly I will reinforce them on the best direction because it’s their obligation to “make it happen” for themselves.

This is a lot of words but a simple point I hope you recognize.  By who you are, you have the best potential to be difference makers.  By virtue of how you were raised and the nature of your character, personality, compassion, morality, and fundamental beliefs, you can provide so much of the best part of who you are to others.  I’m not just talking about the obvious targets like girlfriends or family but also friends and acquaintances who are reluctant to demonstrate the hidden cracks on their hearts and souls.

How often do we ask “what’s wrong” and get a response like “I’m fine” or “okay” (save that discussion for another day) and settle for it when we know things are absolutely the opposite. I won’t ask “what you are waiting for” but more “why are you waiting”?  You are no longer the “innocents” of my generation but increasingly responsible and accountable for your generation.  If you want a perfect world, time to start perfecting the world around you and see if it can be expanded a bit at a time through your own acts of kindness based on your own goodness.

I’ll end with the words of a U2 song.  “A broken (or injured) heart is an open heart” so if you recognize it, maybe that’s the time you could really be “there” to help it heal – this is separate and apart from romantic relationships but on a more profound scale.  Simple gestures might just lead to small miracles. Either way, I’ve been “here for you”, will be “there with you”, and help you get away from “there”, and always will!  It’s not hard to find me, you know?

So think about what you say to someone and the actual real meaning behind it and then, give more meaning afterwards to what you just said because one day you may be the one person they need to rely on!  It may be a heavier burden than anticipated but sometimes, affirmations that evidence your character may also call upon untempered accountability so that the perfect world you’re looking for might reveal itself beyond your horizons.

Dad