THE STATE OF STUCKNESS

(As a counselor I often use the following examples of people who are 'stuck.')

*A woman walks down the sidewalk and falls into a manhole. Well, that’s an accident. But, if that same woman walks down the same sidewalk thirty more times, and falls into the same manhole thirty more times,

…it’s no longer an accident.

*This fellow, we’ll call him ‘Sam,’ goes off on an African safari. He happens to be the point man one day, and falls into a pool of quicksand. Of course, his fellow travelers immediately attempt to help him.

One man throws him a rope, and strangely enough, he throws it back to him. Another guy rips a vine off a tree, and throws it to him. Again, Sam tosses the vine back; while all the while he has the most remarkable smile on his face.

He sinks deeper, and deeper. He’s up to his knees. He’s up to his thighs. He’s up to his waist. Now he’s up to his chest. And finally, poor ole Sam sinks beneath the quicksand, and only bubbles remain on the surface.

*You walk into an office and see a young man flicking a light switch. He looks up expectedly at the light, and it isn’t coming on. He continues flicking the switch for several minutes, and it just ain’t happenin.

And you wonder,

“Why doesn’t he check the fuse box? (and) “Why doesn’t he check the lightbulb? (or) “Why doesn’t he call an electrician?”

But he just stands there flicking the switch. And with this, you shake your head, and walk out of the room.

Well, fifty years passes, and you walk into the same room, and you see a very familiar figure…flicking a light switch. He’s older now. Much older. The poor old thing is bent over, he holds a cane in his hand, he’s wrinkled and gray. And he’s flicking that light switch for all he’s worth, and looking up at the light.

…And nothing’s happening.

Once again, you can only shake your head, and walk out of the room.