No Lifeguard on Duty
A Parable Amidst a Pandemic
Jerome is a Millennial. Like most Millennials, he left school with a lot of debt and few job prospects paying well enough for him to live well while paying off that debt.
Still, he hopped in the pool. Learning to swim, he practiced his form and gained the confidence that he would not, in fact, drown. Little did Jerome know, he was in the shallow end.
As his confidence grew, Jerome’s eyes wandered to the splashing on the far end. He aspired to those who raced from side to side in a winding, poetic rhythm. He admired those who exhibited bravery and brilliance with a diver’s leap. He convinced himself: He was ready to go deeper.
Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Now, Jerome realizes that the ease by which the experienced swimmers glided over the water was developed in the many years spent surviving its treachery.
As he started to sink, he questioned where he went wrong. Holding his breath, Jerome’s natural instincts prompted him to get to the bottom of the pool as quickly as possible. If he could find the lowest point, he could then use the floor as a springboard to the surface.
He broke through. Gasping frantically. Floating to the edge. Jerome was mortified. He realized his self-assurance was based solely on the fact that he was…
