QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can."
-Sydney Smith
"I'm just a little guy," said the mouse to Aslan.
“There are thousands of starfish on the beach!” said the young girl picking up a starfish along the edge of the surf.
I like to research genealogy from time to time. It’s an awe-inspiring task at times. I am confronted with the millions of people who are in my direct lineage, but at the same time, learn that I’m related to half a dozen presidents (so far) and many other famous people! Yet, if any one of these people had not had children, I would not be here today. Every one of these millions of people were important!
Even The Doctor says:
“900 years of time and space and I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important!”
The insistence that we are not important is seeking permission to be lazy. Doing nothing is just that – laziness. Whether we’ve been asked to figure out how to plan dinner or to figure out how to reduce pollution and waste as a society. We may not have the best situation. We may be someone (like myself) who is low on energy (chronic fatigue and PTSD) without the physical reserves that we need to have, but that’s not an excuse for laziness.
(image from PXhere)
Maybe you get me wrong. Laziness isn’t about lack of energy or lack of will-power. It’s about having the capacity to help, and refusing. Even when I have no energy to move, I can sit here and type. Even if I have no energy to type, I can sit here (or lie in bed) and think… If I cannot think, then I rest to replenish my body until I can think again. Resting isn’t laziness, but refusing to do what you can is…
Remember:
(Image from PublicDomainPictures)
Maybe today, you can only manage one step… like planning how to make extra meals next time you do have the energy (I can meatballs for such emergencies) or reducing the waste in your home. The efforts you put in today will have repercussions tomorrow – your children will take the “waste less” attitudes to their homes, their workplaces, their industries. Your little pebble today will have ripples throughout the generations.
"But you can chew the ropes that tie me down," Aslan replied to the mouse.
“But you can help this starfish,” said the still small voice to the little girl.
And so can you.
Lori Svensen – A'mara Books & Viking Visual
