A Cry For Help

I came across this quote by Marvin J. Ashton from a speech he gave at BYU:

"What a wonderful situation it would be if we could with feeling and understanding know that God is there, the Church is there, friends are there, leaders and families are there to give us comfort, direction, and reassurance. 

Oh, that there were more people inclined when special situations arose to say to a classmate or an associate, 

'I need to be sure that you are there while I am going through this present trying situation.'"

...

Wow.

Why does this touch my heart so?

I think it's because, I know I struggle with that.

Talk about vulnerability.  And trust.

It's hard to imagine anything that can make you more vulnerable than humbling yourself enough to admit your helplessness and trust another person enough to actually ask for their support in your time of greatest weakness... instead of putting on a mask of strength, pretending you've got it all down because you're afraid that if anyone saw your knees shaking, they would lose respect for you.  Or worse, desert you.  Which would, to our confused minds, prove our worthlessness.

It's funny how God gave us all thorns in the flesh for the duration of this earth life.
Without them, without our trying situations, would we reach out to others like we necessarily do?
Would we humble ourselves enough to accept the aid of another?
Or give our support to another?

And that's why we have friends, family, teachers, churches, mentors, advisors--so we can learn to both ask for help, and give it of ourselves.
To ask with our whole hearts, and give with our whole hearts.

This brings us together as friends.
As families.
As humanity.

And it's beautiful,
and it's humbling,
 and it's peaceful.


Oh,
so peaceful.