No man is an island. Ask for help

This is a true story. A company that moved goods from place to place was suddenly short of hands. They had to hire people in a hurry and found that they had no time to indulge in lengthy interviews. At last they hit upon a plan that they hoped would be quick and efficacious. They filled a cupboard with heavy material and placed it a few feet from a van. The men they interviewed were expected to load it into the van in quick time. They then advertised the job. The response was immediate, and many presented themselves. One by one, they came in and tried but found that they could not move it at all. Then a brawny person was let in. When he tried to lift it, it would not move. ‘Well’, he said, ‘this piece is too heavy. I will need the help of at least two others!’ The interviewers were impressed. Here was their man. He believed in co-operation and teamwork—just what they needed! Four more were chosen in the same manner, and the vacancies were quickly filled.

It is clear that we are not meant to shoulder our problems alone. We are born into companionship. It has been truly said that the human baby is the most dependent of all living creatures. It takes years for an infant to attain adulthood. Growth is tied closely to both celebrations and sufferings that come to us all.

We each have the capacity to guide another’s halting and wavering steps. We need to remember each of us carries within us the capability to answer to another’s need. After all, we belong to the vast family of man.

Many times, though, we hesitate to ask for the help we want. We feel it is somehow degrading and feel small. The impression our inner imaginings create is that we are powerless. In this sense, to give help is easier than to ask for it. But as John Donne pointed out, ‘No man is an island.’

In other words, ‘No one stands alone like an island that is surrounded only by sea. We need one another to survive in life.’ Each of us must remember to help each other as well as take help when needed.