Why Help Fails?
One of the most frustrating news to hear in times of need is probably one that announces that the help you have trusted so much is not forthcoming. Have you ever wondered why some people could help you in the past but under what seems to be a similar situation, they could not at a different time?
Have you been there, in a situation you felt so confident that someone will help you because he has done so in the past, but to your surprise, you got the news you never expected, you got the shock you never anticipated—it did not work on this occasion. Why would help fail?
Many years ago, a man took his car to his mechanic for repairs just like he would always do. He anticipated a quick fix because his mechanic has a track record of timely and excellent service. He expected to get his car back in a matter of a few hours so that he could have it ready for the busy week he has ahead of him. It has always worked—the mechanic always surpasses his expectations, so there were enough reasons to think the same way, but he was wrong in this particular situation.
The mechanic identified the problem, and he could fix it, but he needed to replace some faulty parts in the car. The big problem is that some of those parts were not available anywhere locally. It had to be requested and ordered from abroad. It could take weeks or months depending on the availability of the product and the time it takes to arrive, among others factors.
The mechanic could not get his car back in a matter of minutes or few hours as he used to, so the man was frustrated because he has always thought the man could help in the same way, with anything relating to the car. Some people think the same way and may not understand the limitations of those that offer to help.
Why was the mechanic unable to deliver as he did previously? Why is he unable to help even though he has helped many times in the past? I discovered that the help the mechanic could render depends on the availability of spare parts, among other things. The reason he could help so quickly was that there were spare parts readily available to him. It implies that he becomes helpless when he does not have access to the required spare parts.
It explains the frustration or dilemma of many people today. They never realised that the help they received is not only dependent on the person helping them. It also a function of some other factors that make it possible for the person to help on which he also depends. You may never have had the opportunity to know it, but those that have experienced it are likely to understand the implications.
The mechanic indeed has some skills and expertise which are required. However, it becomes irrelevant because he cannot progress with the work without the spare parts. He could only be of help to the man when the spare parts are available. When support fails, most often than not, it is dependent on something outside of the control of those willing to help.
The reason the mechanic could not help was that his help depends on the spare part. The reason the local spare parts stores could not help is that they rely on distributors. The distributors also depend on the manufacturers to produce them. It is a chain of events that eventually affected the failure of help to the car owner.
A lawyer relies on the law to help fight for justice. If the law does not support justice, the lawyer does not have anything with which to help. The skill depends on the law—when the law is absent, it will not benefit people facing trials. There are many victims of injustice today in many places, not because there are no lawyers but no law to support justice.
The dentist depends on proven medication for patients. When you visit the dentist with unbearable pain in your teeth, the specialist recommends some medication after careful examination of the symptoms. The help provided is only possible because he could recognise the signs and knows the prescription or process that could solve the problem. The medication is also made available by a manufacturer, distributed to a pharmacy and dispensed by a local pharmacist. If the expert cannot figure out the reason for your pain or could not identify any known medication or find any in production, he would not help your situation. Your pain will continue even though you have visited a specialist dentist. The help you get depends on some other things, not just the dentist—if missing, it fails.
A group of firefighters could fail in stopping a fire or saving lives if they do not have the required equipment like a ladder long enough or the required extinguisher. The help they could offer depends on something outside of them, the absence of which makes the venture a failure. There are occasions where the experts watch helplessly while the fire ravages properties or lives, not because they do not want to help, but their help depends on something else to succeed.
A group of pilots could helplessly watch a plane crash because they are dependent on the controls in the aircraft. If they do not work as expected, the team of pilots become helpless. Their skills can only manage the plane using the control buttons. That is why we have seen many crashes despite the skills and expertise of the crew on board.
It is not just the skilled pilots—yes, they are required, but also, everything they depend upon to help must be in good working order.
Have you felt frustrated because the support you so desired did not work as planned? You may have thought someone failed to help you, but it may not be in their hands even though they may have helped in the past. It may be something outside of their control which they also depend on to help.
To be continued next week, don’t miss it.
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