Mother Se’May Sayer: The ARC of Time
Season Two: Episode One: The Wheat and the Tares
Prologue:
(“The question whether you can determine the good or the bad in others ignores a certain truth. The actions of others after the fact is the only way that question can be answered. No one knows whether a person is good or bad at the time they’re born. No one knows the goodness in their heart when you’re present in their company. How then can a person do business? How can a person choose a mate? How can a person protect their goodness when the true nature of a person is revealed to them?
Mother encountered these questions long ago. She knows her record on the subject matter sits somewhere below .500. Is she concerned this part of her character or as they say instinctual nature stands as a deficiency. No she thinks to herself. Never in a day will she process that truth in no way but this. I’m below .500 in reading people prior to their acts, but I’m hovering in the high .850 range how I turn the discovery of who means me harm or good to my advantage. Why is that the case you ask? The old Bible story of the wheat and the tares she says. Ah well, you require an explanation. Okay.
The unknown factor is always present in every part of life. Even when mischievous persons came under the cover of night and sowed weeds (tares) among the wheat in a farmer’s field; the farmer had to judge whether he could uproot the right sprouting’s based on his knowledge and experience. The only choice left was to allow both the seeds he planted and the tares the mischievous ones laid beside them to grow to harvest. Only then can one determine what is good and what is bad. Time is the only variable that offers answers. Some crops grow quicker than others while still others you can plant a second season if you’re adept enough at farming. The key again here when choosing a crop is timing. The same principle correlates well to human beings. Human beings have to mature and produce the kind of feedback (crop) that is edible to the needs of other human beings. Only when you receive them into your circle of needs will you learn if they are the wheat or the tares.”)
“Six months has passed since the General saved my daughter:”
Mother Sayer: (Today is the last day of school before the Christmas break begins. Doyenne hasn’t shown any signs of her recent ordeal. Perhaps I should let it be she thinks.). N’tare, how’s the menu this morning?
N’tare Bolder: Freshness all around Mother. I took the liberty of bartering with a vegetable stand to keep us supplied for the distant future. I’ve tasted the fruits and they are quite sweet. I trust you will enjoy them as well.
Mother Sayer: Hmm, thank you N’tare. I can’t wait to try them. Where are the children?
N’tare Bolder: They should already be at the table. I’ll send a servant up to fetch them straight away.
Mother Sayer: No, I’ll do it. I should do it anyway more often than I do. (Mother goes upstairs to her son’s room and pokes her head in the door. Justus, breakfast is ready. Come down to eat before it gets cold.
Justus I. Order: Coming.
Mother Sayer: (Mother turns and strolls to the end of the hall and knocks on her daughters’ door and says.). Doy, breakfast is ready. What are you doing in there?
Daughter Doyenne: Nothing Mother, just thinking about being in my room and making sure I remember it if I’m taken from it again.
Mother Sayer: (So, I was right to wonder if what she presented to my face was a façade meant to mask the aftereffects of her ordeal.). You are right Doy. Being scared is a natural mental reaction to what you went through. I can’t erase the ordeal you went through nor will I ever try. All I can say is we both can learn from it. Do you understand?
Daughter Doyenne: Learn from it Mother?
Mother Sayer: Yes Doy. I often wondered myself why do people do things to other people when they know it will hurt them. You know what I found out?
Daughter Doyenne: No?
Mother Sayer: It is that very pain they seek to cause in order to make a person turn fearful about living their life.
Daughter Doyenne: Fearful?
Mother Sayer: Fearful is like not playing sports because the other kids will laugh or talk bad about you if you do. Fearful is believing the person who kidnapped you telling you your Mother doesn’t love you.
Daughter Doyenne: He never told me you didn’t love me Momma. I would never believe him if he did.
Mother Sayer: (Her daughter starts to cry and Mother knows she’s still parentally attached to her Mother, but she knows there is still work to do.). I know baby. Crying is a good thing. You just know I would split a mountain in two if you were on the other side. You are my child and know that I will always love you.
Daughter Doyenne: Yes Mother.
Mother Sayer: Now let’s go down to the table and eat. Breakfast is getting cold alright.
(Breakfast is energizing and finalizing. Mother knows this experience of her family being violated cannot slip into virtual reality. It was real and my daughter just made a decision I’ve been contemplating all the more justified. I will prepare my children for life as I know it. All the danger. All the foolishness. Every pit of vipers out there I will make them aware of as best I can. I will not falter in my duty because of their ability or inability to consume the knowledge I will bestow upon them.
There will be no more hiding the world from my children. I will make them strong and alert. They will learn what I want them to learn whether they want to or not. If something like this happens again it won’t be because I failed to instruct my children on how to take care of themselves.).
Mother Sayer: (Arriving at the office the last couple of months seems to have some bit of normalcy returning to it. Mother smiles as she remembers all the tears of joy and looks of relief quite frankly on the faces of all her people. Business has returned and ideas are flowing once again. Moves are being made and people are reaching beyond their grasps. This is what its’ all about.). Sarah, good morning.
Sarah W. Certainty: Good morning Mother. I trust enough time has passed so we can get back to the pace of activities we had before this interruption.
Mother Sayer: (That’s what I’m talking about! A value can’t be placed on this woman. Hell I may as well say my oldest daughter that’s what she’s become.). Right. Let’s get her fired up again. I do have some thoughts on where to venture our creativity. How about Medicine and Media?
Sarah W. Certainty: Keep going. Carve me out a direction and I’ll drive a truck through it.
Mother Sayer: Absolutely my child. Pointing our fingers won’t get us nowhere but noticed. Tearing things asunder will clear us a path. I want to create a team to look at ways we can use electricity or a new category of it to sterilize operating rooms. Find the bookworms, mathematicians, staff with medical training and put them together. I want ground broken in two weeks.
Sarah W. Certainty: Very well. Now the Media idea. What did you have in mind with that?
Mother Sayer: Have you noticed that the entertainment that’s offered of late skims the surface of what life is really like for all humans. I mean, take a look at comedies on television. Do they really prize the spontaneity of comedy or is it just thrown in our faces and it’s up to us to figure out why it’s funny?
Sarah W. Certainty: I don’t know really. I suppose what they’re trying to do is bring some form of relief from the troubles people are facing.
Mother Sayer: Yeah, the benefit of the doubt seems a bit of a stretch here. I believe laughter springs from acceptance. Acceptance of what’s happened to you. Acceptance of the mistakes you’ve made. Acceptance that life or people will never live up to your expectations. Only then can people feel the gift of a hardy belly laugh. I mean a laugh that sprains the abdomen long after its’ over.
Sarah W. Certainty: That’s sounds like it would take talent to achieve that’s for certain. To make someone laugh that hard.
Mother Sayer: That’s exactly my point. I’m not in business just to make a dollar. I want to leave everlasting monuments. Create dialogue driven shows and reading materials that push the mind to new heights. For this I must build in some conditioning, ‘a check on learning’ as the military would call it to keep myself in line and growing mentally as well.
Sarah W. Certainty: Well, let the record reflect that you are submitting yourself to the crucible of accountability.
Mother Sayer: That’s very good Sarah.
Sarah W. Certainty: I told you I learned many things as a child that a lot of people would crawl into a hole to avoid having the memory linger in their mind. My dad taught me through observation that when you take the job you better act like it at all times. Wavering and uncertainty. It will cost you your life.
Mother Sayer: So, if I do this I have to submit to it 100 percent every time I’m called. I want to call my crucible the ARC Council.
Sarah W. Certainty: Appropriate as the name of your company is the ARC Incorporated. Will this council be able to question you on anything they choose?
Mother Sayer: I was thinking to give them unrestricted access yes.
Sarah W. Certainty: Power.
Mother Sayer: Power?
Sarah W. Certainty: With power comes responsibility. Every act in the name of it will forever be enshrined in the record. Meaning don’t water down your legend by unleashing things like you didn’t know what would happen if you set it loose. I’m more in tune to your idea of this council now.
Mother Sayer: Well I’m glad you are seeing that I’m the one who’ll be facing them.
Sarah W. Certainty: Oh, a little fight every now and then keeps the reflexes sharp don’t they?
Mother Sayer: That’s show right.
Sarah W. Certainty: Good. You’re covering all the bases and that’s what leadership does. Preparing to keep yourself strong at all times foresees good tidings for your people and your company. Just to let you know if I haven’t mentioned it before. I do love my job and I don’t want to work for nobody else.
Mother Sayer: (Mother laughs.). I’ll make sure to stay afloat or in the black. Now what’s this I hear about some squabbles going on in the ranks?
Sarah W. Certainty: You’ve got some scrappy fighters working for you. A lot of let’s say talent without the silver spoon spewing garbled speech.
Mother Sayer: Ah, just my type. Nothing like hungry associates ready to throw it back in the faces of their ‘daddy will give me a job’ friends.
Sarah W. Certainty: These are the kind of people you grew up with right Mother?
Mother Sayer: They’re awaiting their assignments and more importantly where their time here will lead them. Tell them when you pass down my department positions that growth here is baked into the system. I’m sure you’ll pass on my expectations. Growth personally and professionally. Ability to show leadership and team build. The last tenet will be known by the ‘who’s standing with you’ at the end.
Sarah W. Certainty: Whether or not you accomplished the task with guidance or submission.
Mother Sayer: You are kicking dirt on my heels. Nice to see my expectations are being met. You are the daughter of the Don and Sparklett Stone. Now you have become your own woman. They would know you have done them good by your maturity and the wisdom you’re manifesting.
Sarah W. Certainty: That’s not something people say to me.
Mother Sayer: Then I’m glad I’ve taught you something else. In the Army we promote those soldiers with demonstrated ability and responsibility. You’re coming along on the right paths. Keep strengthening your mind and learning new things and you’ll be taking my place someday.
Sarah W. Certainty: I would be a great stand in, but I’m not cut out for long term command. I’m more of a solid right hand.
Mother Sayer: (Mother doesn’t argue with Sarah as she knows you need support staff and the right people in the right places to be successful. It’s good she knows herself). Quite right Sarah and I couldn’t hold it down without you. Okay let’s get those assignments done and out to the departments.
Sarah W. Certainty: By the way, how will you handle the inevitable conflicts and in-fighting that’s bound to happen.
Mother Sayer: There is something I’ve been contemplating over the years. When my father confronted his brother-in-law about stealing his customers it laid a scenario on my mind, but it didn’t produce all the information at that time. Do you mind if I continue talking over lunch?
Interlude:
(Mother has set the table in her office as she’s had lunch brought up to her and Sarah. She wants to teach her the way she’s going to proceed with the associates of her company and whether they will add value or deplete her bottom line.).
Mother Sayer: Sarah. There is a Bible reading that I’ve meditated on for many years of my life. It’s found in Matthew Chapter 30. Basically it says that a field was sown with wheat, but an enemy sowed tares (weeds) in the midst of the wheat. I bet you’re wondering who among my associates aren’t what they seem.
Sarah W. Certainty: Are you saying you’re not going to trust your people?
Mother Sayer: On the contrary. I’m going to trust everyone to do their assignments. That’s why it’s complicated!
Sarah W. Certainty: Oh, I jumped the gun didn’t I?
Mother Sayer: Right. You forgot that anything you plant must first grow before it can be harvested.
Sarah W. Certainty: Yes. Ah, once they reach some level of familiarity here at the ARC you’ll know if they mean you good or not.
Mother Sayer: Yes my dear. That is correct. Precisely the point I wanted to make. There’s no way you can look at somebody and tell who’s who. Just like the look of wheat and weeds are the same when they’re buds. Now do I expect there are people here looking to sabotage my efforts. Maybe is all I can reasonably say.
Sarah W. Certainty: Because you’d be a pessimist if you allowed yourself to be swayed any further than that.
Mother Sayer: Right. Only when my associates grow to harvest, or show they’ve fully bought into what the ARC is trying to do and support our efforts. If not, then I will know who to gather up and purge from our roles.
Sarah W. Certainty: I’m glad I’ve proven myself here.
Mother Sayer: You and me both after what I’ve been through. You’ve been there for me and besides, I’m been authorized to spank you if you disappoint me.
Sarah W. Certainty: What!
Mother Sayer: (Laughs). I’m kidding Sarah. You should see your face.
Sarah W. Certainty: That’s not funny. I don’t know when the last time my Mother spanked me. I hope I’ve shown you respect at all times.
Mother Sayer: Of course you have Sarah. So much so that you have two Mothers now. I’m honored to have your trust and admiration. I plan to honor your Mother and Father with that trust until the day I die.
Sarah W. Certainty: (Sarah walks over to Mother and embraces her.). I love you too Mother.
Mother Sayer: I love you Sarah. Goodness, so you see why we have to allow our associates to grow until the harvest and then reveal themselves to us.
Sarah W. Certainty: Yes Mother.
Mother Sayer: Let’s work on a few more ideas and close early today. What do you say to that?
Sarah W. Certainty: Good.
Mother Sayer: Oh, by the way. Is there someone you want me to meet? I notice you keep your personal life compartmentalized. Closed off to sight seeing.
Sarah W. Certainty: Mother. Ladies keep the heat under a pot of stew simmering. Just a saying I learned. I’ll explain it in memory of an old Italian saying concerning the courting ritual. It’s a little rough so I’ll apologize before I begin.
Mother Sayer: Please.
Sarah W. Certainty: “When a dog has a bone he’ll growl and stare another dog away while gnawing on it. When that dog’s attention is distracted another dog will steal that bone and gnaw on it and may bury it for later. A third dog may come dig it up and gnaw on that bone until it’s flavor is gone. Do you think the dog that had that bone first wants it back?”
Mother Sayer: No
Sarah W. Certainty: My Mother always taught me to first, “never to be a bone, and if I’m going to be a treat make sure you’re the only one in the bag and it’s purchased by one buyer.”
Mother Sayer: Goodness. Do you mind if I steal that for my daughter?
Sarah W. Certainty: You like it?
Mother Sayer: I sure do. It reminds me of my counselor on campus when I was studying to be a nurse. He told me that when he was a boy he was so hungry that he vowed to himself that if he married; he would make sure to provide for his wife and children. He said it was the first step he took in becoming a man. Mind you, he had some trouble in his marriage meaning his wife didn’t understand that was a critical part of him because of the way he grew up. Ultimately he gave up on the notion that she would understand how to stabilize a family unit.
Sarah W. Certainty: Is he still with her?
Mother Sayer: No. He moved on. I’ll tell you what I took from that encounter that day. I knew I needed to look for the character trait of responsibility in a man because from him I understood he took it as a no failure clause of his marriage. I’ll tell you that’s a quality in a man that’s invaluable when times are hard. I know this.
Sarah W. Certainty: Did I say how glad I am to have another woman that gives a shit about me?
Mother Sayer: Many times Sarah. (Mother laughs.).
Epilogue:
(Mother believes there is a need that is going unmet in the health care industry. Patients with memory loss and cognitive fractures need to know who they once were. Providing some video history to them when they are feeling distressed could calm them. Also physical therapy should be a directed activity and not something on a checklist. How can she make that cost effective?
Ideas are flowing and Mother is excited. The main thing she feels is the growth and safety of her children. She is their teacher and she has to keep the memory of their father alive in them as well. It will be done she thinks.
Some of these folks that say to trust people because you see the evil side of them aren’t true observers of humanity. They are the kinds of people who’s had their paths cleared for them so they don’t know how to tell who is a friend or foe. Their readings of the situation is peripheral at best. By skimming the edges of the outcomes that are possible with this person they only perceive little damage or little harm from an evil person.
What do you hear most from people in long term relationships? Families that love each other forever. Marriages that last a lifetime. It is known that a snapshot (a moment in time) can be framed and placed in a setting of remembrance, but nobody lives through a memory. Everybody grows, learns and changes over time. The hope is that the good is padded more than the bad. Therefore it stands to reason that if a person is presenting more bad than good; it means they’re more likely to defer to the evil in them than the good.
