It was only a television show. But I was still impressed.  There were two doctors whose relationship was defined by competition and vying for the limelight.  She missed no opportunity to push past his authority. He barely tolerated her in the operating room. Without thinking much about it I assumed that it would always be that way. 

 

Then they were both called on a rescue mission in which a man was pinned under a crumbling building. His life hung in the balance. The doctors focused completely on the needs of the dying man, and worked skillfully together to save him. It softened the hard edges of their relationship. 

 

I thought about times when I have done that. Well, not rescued anyone, but swiveled my attention from self interest to a greater good. Raising children together with John certainly called on my higher resources. Being annoyed at him became less than irrelevant when one of our children was sick, or scared. Then there were times when we were feeling grumpy with each other, but had a meeting scheduled with a younger couple. The notion of dragging our peeves into the circle of sweetness was unthinkable. 

 

The writers in the hospital drama knew what they were doing. Craft a background that looks like two people can never get past their conflicts. It makes the resolution that much more surprising. 

 

I think the Writer of my life script does too.