Recently I was mean to a dear friend of mine.  I spoke and acted unkindly.  “That’s not you, Bruce,” I thought.  Except this time it was.

Years ago, I vowed to Do No Harm.  And usually I keep my word.  So yesterday and today I’ve been sitting with having broken that agreement.  Feeling into the pain of it.  I’m an imperfect human being who wants to give to others and sometimes doesn’t.

Will the person forgive me?  I hope so.  And … will I forgive myself?  I’ve been working on it.  It used to be that when I screwed up, I lost weeks or even months in the angst of it all.  Let’s go for a few days this time.

***

This morning, I was chatting over the counter to one of the employees at Panos Langemunt while ordering my breakfast.

Off to the side were gasps and cries.  A young woman was stumbling against the drinks cooler, her eyes glazed.  She was muttering something in apparent delirium.

Two other women had her by the arms to prevent a fall.  A guy was already on his cell phone, calling 112.  A woman employee was rushing in with a chair.

There were at least fifteen of us focused on the disoriented woman.  I sent her all the love that resides in my heart.  All of us were an instant family.

Minutes later, as EMS were arriving and her eyes started to focus, she and I looked at each other.  I bowed with my palms together.  She smiled.

***

Separate beings … connected beings