Having good people in your life is such a blessing...people that you can talk to when you have problems. Last night, Yahoo news featured a story about a robbery at an Advance America check cashing store that ended with the robber kneeling on one knee and saying a prayer for 10 minutes with the store clerk, Angela Montez. Angela was later interviewed about her ordeal and she said at first, she was so frightened when the robber pointed the gun that she couldn't stop shaking and crying. She thought she was going to die so she started to say her prayer asking God to forgive her sins and to take care of her children. Angela said in her Good Morning America interview that she began praying and telling the robber not to do this and that he was young to waste his life (the robber is 23 years old). The robber told her that he had to do and that times was bad, he was going to be homeless and that he has a two year old son. She told him there's nothing can be that bad that he'd be willing to take someone's life or give up his own life to go to prison. The robber broke down as the two continued to talk. The robber told Angela that he had no one to talk to and told her talk to him. Through talking to the robber, Angela was able to help a desperate man put a gun down and prevented a robbery that could of have ended tragically.
Having someone to turn to in times of need is crucial to the healing of a troubled heart and a confused mind. I'm blessed to have good people in my life whom I can turn to with my problems. I talk out my problems because I learned that sometimes what I think may be wrong and therefore I am wasting my time being mad at someone for the wrong reasons. When I was hired as a department team leader in 2000, there was a lady that really caught my attention. She drew attention to herself by disengaging herself to the rest of the staff. She took breaks by herself, ate lunch by herself and did not comingle with others. At first I thought it was a language barrier because she does not have a good command of the English language but later, I discovered that she was just bitter about life in general. I made efforts to talk to her and over time she was comfortable talking to me. When I got to know her better, I realized that she was the type of person that bottled all her emotions inside and formed her opinion on people based on her brief interactions with people. I managed to convince her to talk about things rather than holding them inside. She used to view everything and everyone in such a negative light. For instance, if the manager spoke to her about her tardiness, she assumed that someone had snitched on her.
I believe that the root cause of the why's and what's that led to my coworker's bitterness towards the world stemmed from not having someone to talk to and to guide her in the right direction. When we became close friends, she opened up a lot. Her outlook of things eventually changed when she started to see things more positively. She stopped thinking everyone was against her. She was more active in the department, she ate lunch with other coworkers, she laughed and smiled more, and she talked out her problems. I would offer my opinion, point of view, advice, or sometimes straight out told her she was dead wrong. I made the point of listening to her when she needed to talk to me about whatever that was bothering. The only big obstacle that I encountered was our spirituality differences. She is an atheist and I'm a very spiritual person. I think I succeeded in making her believe that whatever you throw out there in the universe, good or bad, will come back to you. I'm not a philosopher or a psychiatrist, sometimes I find myself lost at words when someone talks to me, but I listen. Sometimes the smallest thing you do has such a big impact on people. Listening is one of them.
I also read about this story on Yahoo last night. Our economy has gotten so bad that we have an increase in crimes because people have no means to take care of their families. I hope our economy picks up soon. You did a good thing to help out your coworker. Not many people will take up that burden.
He did the right by listening to her plea. If he had lost control and opened fire, his life would definitely have been ruined.
@KN: I know, many people would prefer to leave a troubled person alone. I'm glad I stepped up and helped her.
@Jane: He could of made more mistakes but the fact that he looked inward and prayed also tells you he is a man who just made the an awfully wrong decision. I hope he learned from this and become a better person.
Talking about co-workers, I cannot understand why there are certain co-workers in my office who are constantly whispering and chatting in the background regardless of the time of day. When I talk to colleagues who are close to me and happen to be in the same department as them (I am from another dept), those certain co-workers are all eyes and ears.
I don't understand the behaviour and attitudes of those people. What do they gain by behaving like that..and on top of that, contributing to the noise pollution in the office.
@Mei: Having worked in a big company myself, I find that office politics is prevalent in all lines of businesses. People just enjoy gossiping. Actually, some people are addicted to gossiping, it's like they can't control themselves. I know what you mean by "all eyes and ears"..experienced that too often myself. It's really sickening. Thanks for your input!
Firstly, Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting :).
Everyone should listen. Just because they rob doesn't mean it would make things better and what is worse, it would make the victim forever traumatized. Why cause such problems to people when they got problem too? They got a good pair of hands and legs, I am sure they wouldn't go starving if they actually try.
@Ladyviral: For some people, perhaps it is because they see no solution and are desparate so they resort to doing crimes to get a quick fix to their problems. That's why I think those who have a good support system from family and friends are less likely to commit crimes. Thanks for stopping by!
Did anyone catch the clerk said she felt the presence of God during the entire time? That's amazing what she did, not everyone could talk sensibly in her situation. Bravo!
@Sonia - The clerk said she felt warm on her shoulders and she knew God was there with her. She admitted that she was scared to death but she just kept trying to talk to the robber and convinced him not to give up on life.
and thanks for ur comments... i'm really nt a poet... but that day i jus wrote something... may b i cannot write like that again.. :) hey if u hav a spiritual curiosity.. i hav another blog read it if u hav time..
@Mishal - it's a true blessing to have good and supportive in your life. And yes, these are the people that make our life beautiful.