Someone Important Enough

I was dreaming one night and, of course, when I woke up, I couldn’t remember all the dream, but the last part stood out, so hopefully I can make my point sufficiently. There was a group of people in the dream that needed a military presence, a kind of hero to sort out their present situation. The group was at a loss as to how to proceed. They deliberated for some time when an old man wandered into the room. Everyone was startled. Some barely recognized him though they all knew him. He was usually a little scruffy, quiet, and possibly a homeless man even though he met with the group regularly. No one knew much about his personal life. He was dressed in a military uniform and stood before the group with a proud look and possibly a bit of joy at the reminder of his younger years. For one moment the main person in my dream saw him as the young, clean-shaven military man he had been. Fresh, smiling, eager and ready to do his duty and all the problems the group faced were washed away. Then the quiet, sober elder was before the main dream person in his slightly ill-fitting uniform. Their solution had come from what they had considered the most unlikely source. 

We need to keep our eyes open. Sometimes our answers or solutions are so unexpected we miss them. Especially when we are looking at people. When I wrote for the local newspaper years ago, one of my favorite things was to write biographies on people, particularly the elderly, because I learned that everyone has a story, a past, and unseen abilities. Young or old, there is more to a person than what meets the eyes. Get to know the depths of them and you may find a great resource – or a great friend – that lies beneath.