It’s possible to lend someone your possessions. It would be nice at times if you could lend and borrow intangibles, such as confidence, judgment, or strength. So that if someone was having a particularly bad patch, you could say “Here you go, take my confidence for a while, if you could have it back next Thursday that would be great.” Everybody can use a boost now and then.

It is a disconcerting feeling to know that somewhere out there, one of your friends is having a hard time, and all you can do is pray or send karmic waves or think really hard. It is too much to ask, but I want registered delivery. If the thought truly counts, the thought that arrives on time and is put to use counts for more.

But it’s all wishful thinking on my part. We don’t live in a Hollywood film. All that we have in the end in situations like this (and in most things) is a wisp of hope that things will turn out fine in the end. And that is what I’m going to do, at the same time wishing that it were possible to package up this hope. Someone who could benefit from it more than I can use it.