I have learned a great deal by looking at things from another’s perspective.
The obvious example is my work with Inca. She and I have done very well together, and we are beginning to find a rhythm with Mary. We have taken to alternating time with her, bolstering her with strength and soothing her with love. Inca has learned from me to look for the reason behind Mary’s feelings, to see if her weakness comes from loneliness or from something that happened to her. In turn, I have learned that sometimes action is better than inaction, and that decisions sometimes must be made in an instant.
I also learned from Freya, who even with a human’s limited perspective can see into the lives of others. She taught me that it is important to find out what is really happening in someone’s life, and that they often already know what they need to do, if fear or uncertainty would let them do it.
But I have not, since I last saw her, allowed myself to let another human lead me to a conclusion. And why not? There are wise, good people in the world, and they do sometimes find the right answer even before angels can.
I have decided to put my faith in one of them. I have decided to look at Shannon the way Mark does, and let it change my mind about her.
They have been out on six dates already, and he has been captivated by her, rather to my surprise. It is true that he does not know her as I do, but I begin to see that I do not know her as he does. He sees her cleverness, her courage, and her humor, and he truly enjoys her company. It makes me realize that I have been blind to the good in her, too preoccupied with her selfishness, her laziness, and her rudeness. These things are true, but so are the good things, and I must remember that.
Shannon is deserving of love. She must be, or I would never have been assigned to her. More importantly, she deserves better than to be judged by the very person who is supposed to be helping her.
I mean to do better in the future. I mean to follow Mark’s example and find things to admire in her, while accepting her flaws as part of who she is. She is human, thus imperfect, and that can be a beautiful thing.