Wrong Number

The phone rang at 8:30 this morning. I answered with my usual “hello”, expecting it to be a call for a doctor’s office whose number is identical to mine if the dialer transposes two numbers as it is listed in the phone directory. This happens to me all the time, at least whenever the patient uses the directory rather than a business card or appointment card from the doctor’s office. I usually tell the caller the mistake made and I am thanked for my help.

Sometimes a chat ensues about me being his receptionist free of pay or, jokingly, I tell the caller that someday I shall say “Oh, didn’t you know; Dr. B has retired”. (I suppose if I wanted to use a rather dark sense of humor I could instead say: “Oh, didn’t you know Dr B has been retired”.) Anyway, we both have a good laugh and wish each other a nice day. Two total strangers connected for a short period in time by a wrong number call.

Once I chatted with what sounded to be an elderly gentleman who was traveling quite a distance to see the doctor. He was from a small rural town on his way to his appointment in Tyler. He called to get directions to the doctor’s office and instead he had gotten me by accident. He was so afraid he said to drive in the early morning traffic in a big city, which Tyler seemed to him, coming from a town of a few hundred people. I told him how I too dreaded driving in traffic on my trips back to the DFW area to visit my children. He apologetically asked my age and when I told him I was 63, he chuckled and said he was 79. We laughed and he seemed to relax knowing that he was in good company with someone younger than he but with the same fear.

A connection, though short in time, was made between two total strangers, both of whom benefited from the conversation for I was made to feel good that I had in some small way helped another fellow being. And he found became a little less fearful.

However, my caller this morning apparently was irritated by having reached a wrong number for there was a click after my greeting and then the phone went dead. Now, how could I benefit from this lack of exchange? I could let the rude response upset me and affect my entire day. Or, I could imagine myself being the caller. Perhaps s(he) was on a cell phone, caught in heavy traffic, and really needed to get off the call once s(he) realized a wrong number had been dialed. Now, I can certainly identify with that for once I calmed an old man by telling him how frightening driving in traffic can be.

I always have at my disposal two basic ways of responding to any situation. I can respond in a negative way which hurts at best only me, at worst me and other people. Or, I can respond positively whereby at least I and others win or at worst I have a good day.

So the caller this morning with whom I failed to make a connection caused me to make one inwardly whereby I connected a little better with my inner self.

CHIEF: An Admirable Being

CHIEF: An admirable Being


During the drought being experienced here in East Texas, indeed in much of the country, I have noticed the turning of green plants into brown with sadness. First the grasses, then other underbrush, then the young saplings, and lastly, the large, older, more established, mature hardwoods. Indeed, many of the latter show no signs of the lack of rain.

Upon just a moment of thought, I realized how this makes sense. The smaller the plant, the more shallow its root system and therefore the first to suffer damage from lack of moisture and the drying of its leaves. But the big, tall hardwoods have grown deep into the protective cover of Mother Earth’s soil where the moisture contained therein is not so susceptible so quickly to the drying effects of the sun’s hot rays upon the few inches of surface soil. These trees have been through droughts before and perhaps in their way they have developed coping skills; slower growth, a closing or turning of the leaves to lessen the surface area exposed to the drying rays of prime time sunlight; the full opening of the leaves during the cooler hours of the day.

We humans are similar to that in times of hardship. We concentrate all our energy on the task or problem at hand, and save our reserve for other needs we may have later. Do I properly channel my energy so that I am always on a firm foundation or do I use my energy inefficiently by channeling it in totally inappropriate areas, like worry about the past or future?. Do I tackle the task at hand as effectively as I am able, refusing to divert my attention to something else that a lower priority?

Let me be like the mature, well-established oak tree I have named Chief. I named him this due to all his battle scars he has accumulated during his lifetime. Scars obtained in battles with weather of all kinds, insect infestation, mold and mildew buildup, and perhaps mistreatment by humans seeking firewood or from other animals seeking shelter. He is missing members from his main trunk and indeed his top is non-existent except as a hollowed out carcass of bark through which I can see daylight. But this hollow provides shelter to numerous species of plants and animals. Furthermore, from off his backside he sports large sturdy branches virulent with foliage even during the current drought.

If hard times should come my way, let me be like Chief; relying upon my strong foundation, discard that which is unnecessary to the task at hand, and thus prioritize the expenditure of my energy.

I am not currently in a drought period in my life; but there have been times in the past where indeed I thought I might perish. But, like Chief, should hard time comes I will rely upon my deep root system, well established, and will concentrate all my energy toward the problem at hand, if and when one should arise.

Meantime, I’ll keep close watch on Chief and learn from him for he is a Being to admire.