I was taking meditation classes at a local center. There was going to be a special guest coming and I decided to attend. I arrive that Saturday morning and found a place to sit. As we were waiting, in walks a neighbor of mine, Lisa. Lisa was probably in her late twenties. I sometimes wondered about her and her husband. They had four kids already and they seemed to live hand to mouth, from what I could see. I never expected to see her here.
The teacher arrived and we had a small meditation first. Our special instructor gave his talk and then asked if anyone had questions. Lisa quickly raised her hand and the teacher called on her. Lisa then went off on how bad her life was. Her hubby no longer paid attention to her and her whole life was raising four small children. I looked around the class right then. I could see people rolling their eyes as Lisa blathered on.
I guess Lisa thought the meditation teacher was there to solve all her personal problems. Luckily the guest teacher cut her off. He told her to go home and meditate on all of her problems. If she needed further instruction she should contact him by email. You could hear a sigh of relief after that. Lisa thankfully shut up and then the class went on. We had more meditation sessions and then the class ended.
I quickly got up and left. I was sure Lisa saw me there and I wasn't about to let her corner me in a one-way conversation. I thought that might be the end of it but it wasn't. I was sitting out on my porch one morning the following week when Lisa comes out of her door and is walking straight for me. I couldn't even get up and run inside the house.
"I didn't know you meditated, Allen?"
I told Lisa I had been meditating and taking instruction for the past twenty years or so.
"Do you think it helps you solve your problems?" She asked me.