# OF WORDS: 623
READING TIME: ABOUT 2 MINUTES
“Shall I tell you what I admire most about you? You are at your best when things are at their worst.”
Jeff Bridges, playing an alien in the movie Starman, giving his opinion about human beings.
People I coach these days are looking for certainty, even as they know it's impossible. Failing certainty, they are looking for peace and freedom from their anxiety. On top of economic concerns, healthcare worries, job losses, 401k meltdowns and global warming we now also have... swine flu. Swine flu? Sometimes, I think we’re living through the real life versions of Godzilla, The Blob and Alien (just because you’re paranoid doesn’t meant they’re not out to get you).
You want freedom from your anxiety? I recommend you take a deep breath and spend some time at the movies. Specifically, the movie you should see is “Trouble The Water.” Currently on HBO, it was nominated for an academy award last year (as of this writing, it’s not on DVD, but there is a web site and you can see excerpts from the movie on youtube if you don't have access to HBO).
The movie takes place before, during and after hurricane Katrina, but it is not principally about the government’s inept response to the tragedy nor another diatribe about how people were abandoned by our government.
Rather, the movie is about what’s possible for human beings (that’s us) who are “at their best when things are at their worst.” In other words, it’s a story for our times of hope, courage, grace under pressure, humor and, most of all, generosity.
“Trouble The Water” tells the story of Kimberly Rivers Roberts and her husband Scott. Like 100,000 other people, they were unable to leave New Orleans during the hurricane because they had no car, no friends with cars and the city had failed to arrange for public transportation.
However, unlike almost all of those 100,000 people, Kimberly and Scott videotaped their experiences in their house as the waters rose around them. They even recorded the 911 call they made from the attic of their house to which they and 15 others had retreated as the waters rose and in which, they assured the 911 operator, they were all going to die (quite reasonably, the operator informed the Roberts that no help could come until the hurricane had passed).
All 15 survived the Hurricane. The Roberts ultimately rescued a total of 30 people and took them on a journey to Northern Louisiana, then to Memphis and, finally, back to New Orleans. (see the movie to discover the incredible details of how they accomplished this feat).
Throughout it all, The Roberts display more concern for their fellow sufferers than they do for themselves. I was amazed by their generosity of spirit and "grace under pressure" (Ernest Hemingways' definition of courage) even as they lost all their possessions and even as they were sure they were going to die (in fact, “Amazing” is the name of the song that Kimberly wrote at the age of 13 and sings during the movie. You will be as astounded by Kimberly as everyone seems to be by Sarah Boyle from “Britain’s Got Talent” whose youtube video is still circling the globe).
You think you’ve got problems? The “amazing” Kimberly, it turns out, is the daughter of a crack addicted mother who died of AIDS. She was raised by a grandmother who died in a nursing home during the storm. Scott was a street corner drug dealer who got his life together and has one of the sunniest and lovable dispositions I have ever witnessed.
Please watch “Trouble The Waters.” It's a story of survival and transcendence, of overcoming fear and triumphing in the face of adversity. It's a story we all can share and live in our own lives.
You will love these people, better understand Jeff Bridges' comment in Starman and, without a doubt, be grateful for your life.
With best wishes,
Larry
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