Rainwater spilled over the workshop threshold.Doyun saw a box that had collapsed. “It’s soaked right through.”Doyun gripped the basin with both hands. “It’s leaking here, too!”Jian saw Doyun’s soaked sleeves. “Let’s stop. We need to get out.”Drops fell onto the cup on the workbench. “Let’s leave it.”Doyun looked up. “It’s starting to leak over there, too.”Doyun looked at the boxes by his feet. “I can’t move all these by myself.”Jian pointed upstairs. “Leave the tools. Let’s go up and stay there.”They caught their breath on the upstairs landing. Jian contacted a neighbor.In the upstairs hallway, the neighbor held out a thermos. “Have a sip of something warm first.”At dawn, light filled the workshop after it had been checked and cleared.Doyun picked up the cup. “Shall we start with just this one today?”
In the state of Chen, Confucius and his companions ran out of food. His companions fell ill and could not get up. Zilu asked whether an exemplary person could also be driven into hardship. Confucius answered that exemplary people hold to their principles in distress, while people of lesser character lose their restraint.
Modern adaptation
The food shortage becomes a flood in a present-day workshop. Doyun and Jian leave their belongings behind, get to safety, and ask a neighbor for help.
Takeaway
Under pressure, decide what matters most and ask for help when you need it.
Today’s question
When you’ve been struggling on your own, whom could you ask for help, and what would you ask for?
