Sunday, December 14, 2008

There I go...

Are you familiar with the expression, “There, but for the grace of God, go I”? Quiet a nifty little expression to use when putting one’s life and one’s good fortune in perspective. Generally, we apply this expression to the big things – those large events that can completely alter the course of a life. We think to ourselves how fortunate we are to have been spared certain challenges that may seem inconceivably large and unbearable.

I believe we should also apply this rather useful expression to the smaller things. After all, should we not appreciate the little things in life? For example, you may see someone spill a drink in a public venue – how embarrassing and inconvenient - “There, but for the grace of God, go I”. You might spot a person who has clearly left the house without the benefit of a mirror – “There, but for the grace of God, go I”. Perhaps you’re at the beach and you see someone trying desperately to look cool, young, hip and competent while riding a wave on their boogie board, when they are in fact uncool, old(ish), not hip and rather incompetent – “There, but for the grace of God, go I”...oh hang on...that is me.

Today I had the misfortune to be bitten twice on the foot by a bull ant and it really, really, really hurt, for quite some time and then for even longer. Herein lies today’s lesson for me. When I return to work next year and one of the wee little people runs to me with a look of pained anguish on their face, claiming to have been bitten by a bull ant, I shan’t think, “Good heavens, toughen up would you! Build a bridge and get over it!” I shall instead think, “There, but for the grace of God, go I”! Lesson over.