Paul Burkhalter, NOSSCR President

The Traveler and the Mirage

To say that these are interesting times would be the understatement of the year. It appears that through a coalition of advocates (and not a single voice) we have avoided a burdensome requirement that disability applicants would be required to appear at the local SSA field office to prove their identity. I want to thank all our allies and colleagues who raised our shared concerns to SSA and helped avoid this troubling proposal.

Recently, a good friend and fellow Social Security disability attorney emailed me the “distracted boyfriend meme” poking fun at all the craziness and apparent rivals we now have in our space. This reminded me of a very ancient story:

There was once a traveler named Rep, who embarked on a long journey with his trusted companion, Nasser. They had walked miles together, facing hardships, crossing deserts, and enduring storms. Nasser had always been by Rep’s side—offering wisdom, guidance, and unwavering support.

One day, as they were nearing their destination, Rep saw a golden city shimmering in the distance. It radiated beauty and promises of wealth beyond imagination. He thought he could see in the distance a great party, attended by former kings and princes, with magicians and dancing girls. Drawn by the sight and noise, he hesitated.

Nasser tugged at his sleeve, “We must stay on course. This is not where we need to be.”

But Rep, enchanted by the golden mirage and sounds, ignored her warnings, and ran toward it. The closer he got, the more it seemed to fade, until he realized—it was just an illusion, a trick of the sun and wind on the desert sand. By the time he turned back, Nasser was gone.

Alone and regretful, Rep wandered for days before he found his path again. But without Nasser’s guidance, the journey was harder, lonelier. He had lost what truly mattered, all because he was tempted by an illusion.

The end.

I am aware that there are lot of stories out there, and misguided sources are spreading tales about NOSSCR that are not based in truth or done in goodwill. In the next few months, we will be correcting those stories and setting the record straight.

Let us all stay were we need to be and not get distracted in these troubling times.

Stay tuned.