Are You...Ok?

"Why are you sad?"

"I'm not sad."

"You are sad."

"Would I say I wasn't sad if I was sad?"

"Yes."

"Me? I would say that?"

"Well...no. Maybe not you."

Speak to me people. I am beginning to wonder if these words fall on deaf ears.

I once met a man who lived his entire life in a box. He was a small man, not only in stature but in every way a man can be small. Or so I thought.

This day I happened to be passing by his box when I saw him pop his tiny head out. He looked up at me and something about my demeanor caused him to shout up, "Friend! Are you...ok?"

To which I replied, "Am I ok? You are a tiny little man who lives in a box. I am a great big man who lives in great big house, drives a great big car, and works in a great big office. And you ask me if I am ok? I would ask you if you are ok my tiny little friend?"

And the man who lived his entire life in a box thought for just a moment and answered, "Yes. I am Ok. And please notice friend that even though your box may be bigger than mine...at least I was able to answer the question."

And with that he disappeared back inside his box, leaving me quiet and still on the sidewalk above, suddenly feeling smaller than I had any right to feel.