I’ve been spending some time on X, lately. The praise heaped on it since Elon Musk bought it persuaded me to give it a try. I’ve found the exchanges there free-wheeling enough to give it sustained attention. But I have another property of the site in mind at the moment.
For those unfamiliar with X, it supports both “public” posting and direct, user-to-user messaging. The latter capability can give rise to extended conversations. Typically, Smith will see a post from Jones, find it unusually interesting or refreshing, and will direct-message (DM) Jones to start a chat. If Jones replies, the game’s afoot.
A large number of X users have DMed me. Being a talkative sort, I’ve allowed most of those conversations to go on at length. Some, of course, have come from people who hope to get something from me. More often than not, it’s an invitation to a “sure thing” cryptocurrency-trading scheme. (Say, remember when snake-oil salesmen had to offer you something you could touch? Ah, the memories!) Still, that’s the case just about everywhere; I simply block them and continue on.
A pattern has emerged. There’s a lot of loneliness-driven unhappiness out there. It’s pretty evenly distributed between the sexes. I do my best to provide a sympathetic “ear,” though it’s unlikely that a stream of text from a stranger will be much help to someone sitting alone in front of a computer.
This morning, it has me thinking about F. James Dagg’s heart-wrenching story “The Bearer.” If you haven’t read it, please do so. Otherwise the rest of this will make little sense to you.
It’s unclear whether the protagonist in James’s tale is a volunteer, or has been chosen for his role by God. It’s also unclear whether he’s free to decline an “assignment.” He takes them all, and lessens his “client’s” pain and sorrow by taking a share of it upon himself. It wears him down, and ultimately ends his life.
What sort of man would be chosen to be a Bearer? I think he’d be unlikely to prattle to others about “empathy” and “compassion.” He wouldn’t preach about the “underrepresented,” the “marginalized,” or the “downtrodden.” He’d merely do the work. It would be a special grace. Such a grace is not something to boast about.
Are there such persons in the real world? How would anyone know, other than Bearers themselves? If there are, I suspect that one of the “job’s” conditions is never to speak of it.
Whether or not there are Bearers, I sense a need for such persons. I hope they exist. I hope there are enough of them. The tide of suffering and despair from our real contemporary pandemic – isolation – is gigantic. It cries out for them. Please, God, make it so.
6 comments
Skip to comment form
The isolation in the older generation is unbelievable. Moved in my 50’s to new town and state for hubby. He was critically ill within 1 year. Given 12/18 months. But that turned into more and he managed to stay for 11 years. So, I had found a bridge club of mostly women, we had 3 tables. By now I’m in my 60’s as is everyone. Within 5 years we had lost 4 of the hubbies, including mine along with 2 of our members. Within the next 5 years there were no spouses left. All but 4 were either now in nursing homes or had died. So here we are the last 4. Children in other states and our circle of conversation with anyone is 3 people. I’m the only one that’s not in an institution now or nursing home. But I go for days without a word being spoken to me or me to them. I volunteered at the library for 6 years and worked the book sales but back problems forced that to end. Then for 15 years I worked the polls. Tried to keep busy, but we wear out. Things that we use to work around aren’t working any longer. But I saw something like this on another blog site this a.m. so maybe holidays are triggering the “woe is me’s”.
But blogs keep my mind active with all the different thoughts and evaluation of all the info they have. I highlight and research so many things that I had zero knowledge about. Learned about volcano’s and rock hunting and how many types of plane’s there have been since the Wright Brothers. Such an amazing world out there of knowledge is what makes me want to see the next 20 years. Aunt who raised me went from high button shoes in 1894 with corsets and long dresses to watching a man landing on the moon. I want to see Elon land on Mars. If we ever have an EMP attack and we have no more blogs and of course, food, I think then will I be ready to go.
When I see guys that I follow (usually always men) mentioning their disappointment or frustration on Twitter, I tend to reply—never DM. My goal is to give them strength. There usually is no further interaction, other than a quick thanks.
I refuse anyone who DM’s me. They’ve crossed a line.
In my personal life, I’ve realized that there are those poor souls that are followed everywhere they go by rain clouds. It quickly became obvious that were doing perpetual rain dances, and I don’t like to get rained on.
Others seem to face life bravely, but get disheartened, ill, or temporarily overwhelmed and can benefit from gentle support. To them, it’s easy to reach out.
Sincerely hoping this doesn’t sound too cold.
Thanks so much, Fran, for again promoting my story and for your generous praise of it. You raise good questions, ones that never occurred to me and we’re not necessary for either the stories conception or completion. I’ve had situations like this before where readers have asked me whether I meant A or B in an ambiguous situation. Since I never knew myself I always replied, “Whichever one suits you.” Some see that as a cop out but I see it as a kind of generosity and an invitation to the reader to make the story more real for him.
So, in the Bearer’s case, volunteer or assignee? No idea, though I like to think of it as an assignment that he graciously accepted, understanding the value he would bring to the world. Are there such bearers in the world? Again, I haven’t the faintest but I hope there are. Could he decline an assignment? Don’t know, but I think you and I both believe he would never.
And again, old friend, thanks so much for the promotion and the most gracious praise. Be blessed and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Saw mention of your book and checked Amazon but not listed there. Is this still in print? Also as soon as I saw the “it could be A or B” I thought of Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16 play which was a murder trial where 12 juror’s were selected from the audience. The statistic’s were both not guilty/guilty. I read the play decades ago and it’s stuck with me. Would love to find your book. That premise always intrigues me.
It seems likely that the “The Bearer” is a Victim Soul. I’m inclined to think that these individuals are given the Grace to carry the burdens that we have not Faith enough to endure.
Author
I like that. I hope it’s the case.