[]
There is a new movie out in the theaters, The Soloist, based on a true story of a schizophrenic homeless musician, Nathaniel Ayers. Mr Ayers’ story became popular when a Los Angeles journalist began to write about him in his newspaper column. This story of a friendship that has changed the lives of both men, began in 2005 when a journalist, Steve Lopez, desperate for a story one day, befriended a street musician who seemed more interested in playing the violin for himself, than in panhandling.
Mr Lopez eventually compiled the stories of his newspaper column into a book called, The Soloist: A Lost Dream, An Unlikely Friendship and The Redemptive Power of Music. The book tells the story of Mr Ayers, a child prodigy, who in his second year of his musical training at the distinguished Julliard School, became mentally ill and his career was aborted. After undergoing unsuccessful shock treatments for his mental illness, he ended up living on the streets. He eventually drifted to Los Angeles and it was at a square in Los Angeles, where Mr Ayers liked to play near a statue of Beethoven, that the two men met. Mr Ayers came to trust Mr Lopez, sharing about his background and Mr Lopez took him to his home to meet his wife and daughter. He took him to Walt Disney Concert Hall, the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and it was there that an amazing transformation began to take place in Mr Ayers. The concert hall became a spiritual oasis for him. They went there during the orchestra’s rehearsals, where the musicians befriended Mr Ayers and some began to mentor him in the music he so loved and played at Julliard’s.
This story so moved people that readers of the LA Times column began to donate musical instruments to Mr Ayers and they inquired on how he was doing over the years. This story spoke to me of the power of loving kindness. Though the friendship started out as a means to good material for a newspaper column, Mr Lopez’s daring to open his heart to this homeless man, bringing him to his own home to meet his family to show him a stable family life, was an act of kindness and compassion. In an interview with 60 Minutes, Mr Lopez said that it was the most meaningful friendship he ever had and one he had learned the most from. The interviewer asked if he had found his inner good guy, to which Mr Lopez replied that Mr Ayers grew to trust him, to rely on him, and that it felt good at giving that.
For all of us, our lives have a narrative that sometimes our outer circumstances fail to elucidate. Much of society judges us by our appearances, our station in life. When a story like this comes along, we are reminded to not be so quick to label others according to our preconceived notions and prejudices. This story makes me appreciate that we do not know what ravages the human spirit is asked to endure, that each person we meet is a complex, woven tapestry of experiences, that if we are quick to judge and label, we fail to unlock the richness of the unique journey of each person we meet. In the words of Kabir:
Are you looking for the Holy One?
I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This is truly a wonderful story! One never knows who we might be missing by our judgments!
Hello Mark,
Yes, I agree this story carries a great message, one of the most important teachings that one must learn on the spiritual journey, that of being non-judgmental of others.
Thanks for dropping by.
Peace to you !
Miruh – lovely! I love that Kabir quote. Letting go of judgment has been a big theme in my own path. I once heard someone say ‘everyone is speaking from their own damage’ and it really struck home for me at the time. It helped me see how an aggressive individual I was having difficulty with at work was acting out from their own place of hurt, and that opened the doors for a new type of compassion in me. That person never changed while I knew him, but that insight helped me stop processing his actions towards me personally. I really saw at the time how I had only been truly extending compassion to those that seemed ‘worthy’ or ‘needy’ beforehand. Thanks for the movie recommendation too. – Lisa
Hi Miruh,
As a reader of the L.A. Times, I am very familiar with Steve Lopez. I remember the first series of articles on Mr. Ayers. I was so enthralled by Mr. Ayers’ sensitivity and talent, not to mention that his story had a poignancy that was unsettling. I was so happy to hear that Mr. Lopez was the angel Mr. Ayers needed to give him wings. It is a truly touching story. Thanks for the reminder.
I love the quote too.
Miruh, you express words in ways that prompt deeper reflection. As the quote implies, every human being is interconnected in oneness. The energy being is more resilient than is often realized.
Hello Lisa,
I connect with what you are saying, “that insight helped me stop processing his actions towards me personally. “ That is something I have to keep working with, that everybody has my permission to be who they are without it meaning anything about me. I don`t have to agree with them or fix them. What a relief! The energy we free up with this outlook allows our genuine loving-kindness and compassion to come forward.
I enjoyed reading your insightful comment, thanks for dropping by and participating.
Love and Blessings to you!
Hello Alexys,
I wonder if either of these two men knew on some level, the destiny that was in store for them. It is as if their lives crossed paths at the square in LA that day, just so the world would learn these important lessons of loving-kindness and non-judgment. I think perhaps this is the case with all of us in all of our relationships, including me writing this here comment.
Much love to you my friend!
Hello Liara,
I notice that what I write about is often what I myself am reflecting on, and sometimes my reflection is prompted by what I have written.
The theme of oneness, our interconnectedness is always relevant, as all throughout history we fight each other because of our perceived differences. I believe we are getting closer to seeing each other through the lens of unity in diversity. It is our human destiny.
Love and Blessings to you my friend!
Hello Miruh,
This is a beautiful write up and thank you, as I saw the trailer for the movie, but was definitely intrigued to know more in terms of whether to see it or not.
It sounds like a very moving story and one that indeed has the potential to teach us all a lot about life and who gets what, why, etc.
I believe there are opportunities in every case scenario, we just have to be open to them and then we see amazing things happen indeed
Hello Evita!
I agree with you that if we are open to the experiences that show up, perhaps it`s the universe`s way of offering us a gift if we are present to appreciate and unfold it.
I haven`t seen the movie yet, but I will, though the reviews haven`t been all that great. It is a moving story and I think it will be worth going to see.
Thanks for participating, a pleasure to have you drop by.
Peace to you!
Leave a Comment