Many years ago I worked overnight security at a site where I did outside patrols around the property. During the summer there was wild honeysuckle growing along the fence, and the temperature rarely dropped below 65 degrees even in the middle of the night. Those late night walks around the outskirts of the site are pleasant memories even after all this time.
Another thing I recall from that place was how there was a big street light right over a mudhole, equally drawing moths to the light above and to the light below.
When I would find a moth drowning in the mudhole I would put my finger in the water and let the insect climb onto it. Then I'd carry it around in the warm summer night air as I finished my patrol outside. The moth would sit there on my fingertip and rapidly fan its wings to dry itself until it could fly again.
I would make certain to carry such a moth far away from the mudhole so that when it was ready to fly once more it wouldn't be attracted to the same death trap. And yet there were times when I would watch the moth fly off into the night and go right back to the same area: spiraling down into the reflected light on the water below.
Sometimes you might find yourself in a similar situation with someday. No matter how much you care about them, no matter how often you help them out of the water they are drowning in, they always go right back to it.
There comes a point when you have to live your own life and let them live theirs. Perhaps they will be able to crawl to the edge of the water, pull themselves out and eventually fly away with the coming of the dawn. And having done so all on their own, they might become experienced enough to not make those same mistakes again.
Maybe they won't. Maybe they will have no interest in ever leaving the water even though it is slowly killing them, and nature will take its course.
Either way, if you have helped your friend, family member or coworker previously and they revert to the same pattern time and time again: you have done all you can.
Enjoy your warm summer nights and with any luck you will see friend again in the morning light.
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1 year, 7 months ago
05 Jun 2023 17:17 CEST
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