Cosmic Gardener – Cultivating a Life

Several times recently I have found myself deep in discussion with others about the troubling state of affairs in our world. Ongoing war in Afghanistan, nukes in Iran, civil unrest continuing to spill over from the Arab spring, the possibility of global financial melt down, our own anemic economy and the sorry state of our political system among them. Faced with the magnitude of such issues we don’t know what to do and are often immobilized.  What’s a person to do?

 “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
~Lao-tzu

With rare exception our influence is mostly limited to those in our immediate circles. But in reality it is here that we can initiate and have the best opportunity to contribute to significant positive change. To do our part to make the world a better place we must each take responsibility to be present and available to those within our sphere of influence, where we live and with those that matter to us most, in our own communities (however we define them).

It is enough.

“One morning a man was walking on a nearly deserted beach when he came upon a boy surrounded by thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore. The man could see that he was picking up starfish and, one at a time was throwing them back into the water. Puzzled, the man asked, “What are you doing?”

The boy responded without looking up, “I’m trying to save these starfish, sir.” The man chuckled aloud, and queried, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

Holding a starfish in his hand, the boy turned to the man and, gently tossing the starfish into the water, said, “It will make a difference to that one!”
~Author Unknown