Hand me downs

While life-changing moments are usually best lived out, not handed-down; some events are so powerful that even if the story is a hand-me-down, it can make such a profound impact, that you feel compelled to pass the story along to others. This third-hand account is one of those for me and I thought I’d share it with you.

My friend Mark has recounted this story time and time again and I never tire of hearing it. Granted, he is a gifted storyteller, so I always look forward to hearing anything he has to share. In that way Mark is a kind of mentor to me, and because this story is about his own mentor, I find that I gravitate to it.

The way Mark tells it, his boss was a strong and compassionate leader, yet many of his contemporaries were constantly looking down on him and waiting for him to make a mistake so they could take advantage and get him fired from his position. You see, he was not a rule follower; he did things his own way, not out of spite or just for the sake of bucking the system, but because he sought to do the right thing, regardless of what the establishment said and this threatened others. Time and again he walked the line within the organization and while many people embraced his ways, many more longed for him to slip up so they could finally get rid of him.

Mark’s mentor never seemed to let any of this bother him. He was so focused on doing what was right and following his heart, that all the venom spewed his way did not trouble him. It was as though the fulfillment he gleaned from following his own path created a buffer against all the negativity.

Like in any good story though, things had to come to a head eventually. Mark happened to be there that particular day and saw his dear friend in a situation where everyone knew he would have to compromise his principals or very publicly break a well-established rule.

Mark’s mentor, in the presence of many people, was approached by an employee in need. Mark knew exactly what he was supposed to do, but the rule, like many we’re all confronted with from time-to-time, did not make sense. By all accepted norms, Mark’s boss needed to deny the request. After all, it was just one employee in this massive organization and if he denied it, he could stay in his position and do much good for many, albeit under the radar.

But Mark’s boss did what he always did; he took the path of his heart and fulfilled the man’s request, in front of everyone, sealing his own fate.

When you think about it, I guess he helped many more people through this act of selflessness. It helped that one person, gave Mark and hand-up, and everyone he told, including me. Know I’ve told you, who will you tell?