Once upon a time, a middle-aged executive was facing such severe problems that he decided to visit a Taoist hermit and ask for advice. The trip consumed one and half days because of the poor infrastructure in the area where the hermit lived.
The local airport had few connections and featured a rental car office that closed at 7pm. The executive’s flight landed far later than planned, preventing him from picking up the car he had booked.
Undeterred, he called up a taxi, was told that he would have to wait for an hour, and said yes. When the taxi finally arrived, the executive instructed the driver to take him to the hermit’s home.
“No problem,” said the driver. “I know where it is. I’ve been there many times.”
“How come?” inquired the executive. “I thought that he was a hermit.”
“Well, if he is, he didn’t tell me,” replied the driver.
Despite the late arrival, the hermit came out of his home as soon as the taxi came to a standstill.
“Welcome,” said the hermit joyfully, opening the taxi’s door while the executive was paying the driver. “We have kept your dinner warm.”
Upon entering the house, the executive was greeted by the hermit’s wife, led to the dining room, and treated to a delicious dinner, accompanied by conversation about the local cuisine.
“I did not know that you had a wife,” said the executive.
“We got married two months ago,” answered the hermit.
The executive wondered whether the hermit’s marital status was compatible with someone being called a hermit, but opted for keeping the question to himself.
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, the hermit and the executive sat down on easy chairs on the veranda. The sight of the surrounding mountains was breathtaking.
“I need your help,” said the executive right away. “A friend of yours recommended me to come here.”
“I know. He told me. I will do my best to help you.”
“I have so many problems that I do not even know where to start.”
https://johnvespasian.com/non-action-as-an-enabling-factor/
