There is a saying: “When a blind man sees, he throws away the stick that leads him.” At first glance, it appears simple, even humorous.
Beneath its surface lies a painful truth about human nature,the one that I have come to understand through personal experience.
It speaks to the tendency of some people to discard or forget the very support that guided them to safety, success, or opportunity once they believe they no longer need it.
I once stood firmly in the gap for several individuals, helping them secure jobs when they were struggling, uncertain, and searching for direction.
I guided them through processes like,offering advice, recommendations, encouragement, and sometimes even going beyond my own comfort to ensure they had a chance at a better future. I was their “stick,” steadying them as they made their way through the darkness of unemployment and insecurity.
But as soon as they were employed,settled, confident, and no longer needing assistance,the loyalty and gratitude I expected were nowhere to be found. Instead of appreciation, I encountered betrayal.
Some of the very people I helped rose up against me, working quietly and openly to undermine my position until I eventually lost the job I had helped them enter.
This experience painfully echoed the proverb. The blind man, once restored to sight, forgets the stick that kept him from stumbling. He may even kick it aside, failing to recognize that his new stability was once dependent on that simple but faithful support.
It is easy to judge these individuals harshly, but the experience taught me something deeper about life and human behavior. Not everyone you help will remember your kindness.
Gratitude,they say is not universal, and loyalty is not guaranteed. Some people only see value in you when they are in need, and once their need is met, your importance fades in their eyes.
Yet, I also learned something empowering: even when your kindness is repaid with betrayal, it does not reduce the worth of your good deeds.
The betrayal may cost you, and it may hurt, but it does not erase the integrity or generosity that motivated you. It only reveals the character of the other person.
So, though I was betrayed and lost my job, I did not lose myself. The experience sharpened my discernment and strengthened my resolve.
Above all, it taught me this: help where you can, but guard your heart,because when a blind man sees, he may indeed throw away the stick that led him.