And sometimes it rings when we are unprepared or wish someone else was called. The title refers to the times we are confronted with an opportunity to help someone and need to respond affirmatively even when the timing is wrong, we do not want to, or we do not feel suited for the task.
It Rings
We would immediately jump to the aid of a heart attack victim and perform CPR armed only with the knowledge acquired from life-saving reality TV. Without a moment’s hesitation and while still wearing our Christian Louboutin shoes, we would jump into the deep end of a pool to rescue a drowning child.
In contrast, we can recall too many occasions we failed to act when an acquaintance experienced a death in the family or suffered some other hardship because we thought we weren’t close enough to the person, it was too soon to call, or we did not know the right thing to say. We do not make the outreach even though we received great comfort in a similar situation when someone called us with a few kind words.
Please know, the failure to act can create an opposite, adverse impression. Thirty-five years ago (before the invention of email and cell phones), I ran into an out-of-town friend a month after my sister passed away. After a couple of minutes of pleasantries, I asked if he heard about my sister’s death. He looked downward, nodded his head, and mumbled a few words.
It was a lost opportunity I have not forgotten. The memory does not cause me to hold a grudge against a good person but provides an enduring lesson and call to action when faced with a comparable circumstance. Simply put, a few caring words can be a great source of comfort and the absence of those same words can leave an enduring negative impression.
You’re the Wrong Person
You will assuredly be drafted into service where you are ill-equipped. A close friend in a 12-step program mentioned he did not have a sponsor. This statement instantly raised an alarm as I know sponsorship is an essential element of the program. Even though I am disqualified from serving as a sponsor (must be a participant in the program), I was the person made aware of the immediate, critical need and I volunteered to act as a “monitor.”
With my “but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express” knowledge, I checked in daily with my friend. While I lacked the necessary qualification and expertise, I must have been incredibly inspiring as he found a sponsor within a week. The situation did not require me to learn the sponsorship rules but to be actively present and accompany him while he found a real sponsor.
Answer It
While a calling may cause discomfort, you may be the person uniquely positioned to serve based on a confluence of need and availability. Providence or karma tells us we are placed in the position we need to be.
Of course, I am not suggesting you adopt a savior complex or needlessly engage when unnecessary or where inappropriate. For example, you can render first aid but should not perform field surgery if there is a hospital across the street. You undoubtedly possess the emotional and intellectual wherewithal to identify those circumstances where you are the person needed to take action and where you aren’t.
Be aware of and receptive to the needs of others and establish your legacy as one who answers the call.
