A story is told of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. One day, Jesus came to him and asked him if he wanted to be healed. The guy’s response was a sob story of how he had been treated unfairly.
There are two types of men that will ask for help.
One man, is a man who shouts “help” “help”, while lying flat on his stomach. Such a man does not want the help that he asks for. He is okay being down. He likes the fact that he needs help. He enjoys the fact that he is a victim. He relishes the fact that life has dealt him a bad hand. He swims in the comfort of being treated unfairly by life.
Another man, is a man who drags his broken feet to get to his knees and crawls. There is a look of sincerity and quiet desperation in his eyes. That man means business. He only needs a prop and he will be on his feet. He only needs a little nudge and he will cross the finish line.
But often, we don’t want the help that we ask for.
Often, we are only putting on a show.
For what we really want is not help.
What we really want is a token.
Life is life
Fabio is a mental health professional, researcher and lecturer of psychology at Kenyatta University.