Limited help

The lead vehicle in the Boston Marathon shows runners the route. That’s how it supports the athletes: showing the front of the pack where they need to run, turn by turn.

But wouldn’t it be even more helpful to just put those elite runners in the back of the truck and to carry them? They could all go a lot faster and it would guarantee no one would get lost.

And of course, giving a ride would not help at all. The whole point is to run, not ride.

* * *

There are many times when giving more help is no help at all. Many times when our challenge is to offer sufficient support and no more.

It’s hard. Because we often like to think that the more we can help, the better.

But that’s not always true. Sometimes “enough” is just right.