Fragility and Compassion

A friend was recently in his car, legally turning across an intersection controlled by traffic lights. The recently installed lights control an intersection with a bus lane running through them. The bus driver failed to notice his red light and drove straight into my friend, spinning his car and giving him a real fright in the process. 

My mate physically checked out ok, however he was not ok. 

He has been badly shaken and struggling to get himself back together. 

Humans have taken over the world, there is no doubt that we are resilient and strong. 

However my mate’s experience made me think of our fragility too. 

Sometimes it seems we are hanging in there by luck that one of the elements we rely on is not taken away. 

At this moment, on this day, I am dependent on my car, electricity, the internet, and water in the taps. 

I am dependent on getting paid for that next deal (that money is committed right!). I am dependent on the roof over my head and the clothes on my back.

I am dependent on the apps I use, the stack I use, and the people that support me in my work and in my life. 

Take one of these things away and I know that it feels like it is all going to feel like the world is going to hell in a handbasket. 

So while our species continues to put pressure on each other (and everything else on our planet) in so many ways and is seemingly unstoppable, at the same time we are so fragile. 

So much so that it probably pays to not dwell on it too much!  

Thinking of this allows me a bit of compassion for myself, and for everyone else too.