Halfway and Midway
There’s a huge difference between Halfway and Midway although they both sound the same. We urge each other to meet halfway, but what we really mean is compromise. I’ll take a step, you’ll take a step, we’ll meet in the middle. But someone always takes a longer stride. We count the steps, not measure strides. We’ll meet each other Halfway, not fully gone the road. Someone will have conceded, not really knowing how. Someone will feel deceived, and anger will breed. Someone will feel like a winner, but it will backfire. There is no lasting peace. There is no forgiveness, no understanding. Go get the Wizard back in its lamp!
Midway feels like torture. No party is giving in. But Midway knows no Good and Evil. Midway is pure Maths. Every road has sides. And every road has its middle. Go measure yourselves! You want the middle crystal clear, but it’s covered by dust. There are glass splinters all over the road, and bikes and honking for you to get out of their way. You may get ridden all over. There will be mudslinging, there will be crossfire. Don’t give up on your mission! Love will guard you; Love will shield you. As long as you’re honest, you’ll find the lame duck. The duck will quack. The duck will peck. The duck will show you its arse. Don’t laugh! Midway is serious business. Especially if family is involved.
You can’t meet Halfway; you must walk all the way. Walk until your opponent runs out of bullets. Walk like Neo when he’s finally tired of running away. Turn to face Agent Smith! No matter how many his flying monkeys are, your calm and resolve are stronger. You come with Love, bearing Peace while they are firing Hate and Lies. You know they’re lying; you’ve seen the evidence. They pretend they can fly, but lame ducks never do. There’s no need to have them for dinner, their wounds may be poisoned. All you’ve got to do is tell them they are forgiven. ‘Pardon not shoot’ is an easy riddle once you’ve found the middle.
You may need to draft complaints and file for court proceedings. You may be dragged through litigation, but once they’ll run out of bullets. It’s up to them how public they want this to get. You see the Midway. You’ll get them to crack. They may win the first instance; some judges can’t bear the paperwork alone. But appeals have three eyes, mishaps will be corrected.
Some lame ducks pretend to be swans. They only look like ugly ducklings, they claim. They’ve been falsely accused, there’s no proof. But you’ve already probed deeper. You’ve dug through all the muck; you’ve found the golden egg. You’ve seen the Midway. If your client is the lame duck, get them to settle, and do it fast, before the shit goes public, before irreparable damage is done. If they’re smart, they’ll listen. If not, you’ve shown them the Midway. There’s mercy in forgiveness and poison in Halfway. Your job is to settle for the win-win. Your client cannot, you must. If you’ve done your best and yet they choose death, let them walk to the gallows. It isn’t you who’s being hanged. It’s not your shit, not your puddle. You warned your client; you did your best. If they choose Halfway instead of Midway, pray for their souls and pray they’re forgiven.
Ride to War with Love and compassion! Keep your eyes on the Midway! They’ll try to trick you, sell you on halfway. Don’t take the bite, go for Midway! They’ll try to shoot you and torture your client. They’ll do their best to unseat you. But you needn’t worry because Love is with you. You can win this Trojan war; you can outlast the siege. Your battlements are firm, your aim is clear. You’ve got your weapons ready; you’ve got their smoking gun. Your only Achilles’ heel is your client. Your client may run out of patience. Your client may hate all the rounds and adjournments. Your job is to steady the client. Your job is to be their abundance. You’ve got your arguments ready; you’ve drafted the motions and final deal. But don’t forget compassion, your client needs it today.