I hate saying that. It feels so very wrong. It's not that Iwouldn't like to help them. It's not that I am not appalled atwhat is happening over there. I have been wrestling with myguilty feelings lately. What have I done to make the world abetter place? I started by taking inventory of the areas thatI'd love to 'fix'. My to-do list looks like this:
Free Tibet Heal the hole in the ozone layer Cure Cancer Save theendangered species Overhaul the public school system Raise myown kids Defend the gays and lesbians Teach people how to behappy Solve world hunger Find loving homes for the orphans Savethe rainforest Rid the planet of pollution Implement a cleaneconomical fuel system Design a quality inexpensive health caresystem End divorces and broken homes Clean out the politicalsystem Create world peace Find Atlantis and solve the mystery ofthe pyramids Scientifically prove somebody's religion is truePsychologically heal the inmates who want it End all superficialfakeness Save the children Stop racism Bring an end to lethargyStop terrorism Save the coral reefs Change America's focus frombeing 'politically correct' to becoming 'spiritually correct'and I'm not talking about religion
It all gets a bit overwhelming. How can I ever accomplish all ofthese things in my lifetime? Even if I delegate certain areas tomy kids, and make them take a blood oath that they will force mygrandkids to carry on with the work on this list until it isfinished, I cannot possible hope to solve all of the world'sproblems. Then I got to thinking about getting up on my soapboxand preaching to everyone that they need to come help me. Thereis just so much that needs done and you and I both know that mylist is not even complete. I would be lucky if I can do one ofthose things really well during my lifetime.
I had to sit and really think about my own resources, thenatural gifts I was born with, and what amount of time I want tocommit to doing good deeds. I had to analyze the list and whatit would really take to accomplish each of those things. What Icame to realize is that there are some that I am called to do,some that I just want to do, and still others that I secretlywish someone else would do. That's not a bad thing, it is whatit is. I may really want to cure cancer and other diseases, butI know that deep down I don't have any resources, skills,training, or education to apply to the problem. It's really notmy job. All I can do is to support those who are meant to dothat work. If I had the money, I'd dump a fortune into theirpockets to make sure they had all of the tools they needed. ButI don't have it to give, not yet anyway.
What if I do a little bit for each and every one? They say,"Every little bit counts!" You know if all I was giving was mymoney, then I'd say yes. Donate money to all of those causes.But, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking aboutactually rolling up my sleeves and getting to work helping makethe world a better place. I personally cannot fly all over theplanet adding just a touch of my energy here and there. To trulycreate the huge changes needed to fix those problems, I wouldhave to really give my undivided attention and focus. Onehundred people giving a moment of their time is not as effectiveand powerful as just two or three people giving it all of theirtime and focus. If I am going to make a difference, then I willhave to narrow the list down.
One by one, I had to scratch off the list those things that Ipersonally could not do. That's not to say that I won't somedaybe able to help finance them. For now, I have to look at what Ican actually roll my sleeves up and do with my own two hands.What are my talents best used for? What is my job? I picked fromthe list those things that were truly deeply mine. They are allareas that I also happen to feel a personal calling to beinvolved in. Everything else, I have to let go and trust thatsomeone else will recognize that they have the talents andresources to become part of the solutions. I have to trust thatwhoever is meant to take on those jobs will feel a calling deepin their soul and that they'll heed that calling.
Another hard part for me is not knowing the divine plan. Whenbad things happen, we can sort of take comfort in knowing thatthere must be some divine reason. Somehow the challenges anddramas of life always lead to enlightenment, joy, new selfesteem, or some other cosmic gift. Some things are meant to be.Some things are not meant to be. So, when I take that deepbreath and trust that someone else is going to pick up thatparticular problem and give their life to solving it, I have toalso make peace with the idea that it may not happen the way Iwould like to see it happen, or along the timeline that I'd liketo see it happen. Who will free Tibet while I'm busy working onfixing these other things? Will they be saved in a timelymanner? Will our government dive in to save them the way thatthey felt called to save other people? I can only pray thatsomeone else picks up the baton because I cannot. Is it yourjob? Will you free Tibet?
Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge
About the author:Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everydaypractical approach to life in 1999 after twenty years ofstudying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth,motivation, and parenting. After years of high heels andbusiness clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home inher pajamas. Go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net to read more of herarticles and to get a free preview of one of her books.
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
Additional Resources
Global Warming And You
By Astute
The word “environmental” encompasses a great number of specialities and sub-fields within the international economy. Environmental jobs deal with a range of climates from office health and safety to Read more...
|
Additional Resources
How To Prepare It Certification Exams
By Bruce Zhang, Wed Dec 7th
Preparing IT certification exams is a significant undertakingwhether you're just out of college or have been in IT field foryears. IT professionals are continuously demanded to acquire Read more...
|
We strive to provide only quality articles, so if
there is a specific topic related to climate change that you would
like us to cover, please contact us at any time.
And again, thank you to those contributing daily to
our climate change website.
Schools to Help Needy Students]]>
Even if people stopped pumping out carbon dioxide and other pollutants tomorrow, global warming would get worse, two teams of researchers reported yesterday.]]>
A sampling of noteworthy presentations yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, taking place in Washington this weekend.]]>
All college freshmen who live in dorms should be vaccinated for meningitis, a government panel recommended yesterday, reversing policy of the past. The panel is also advising doctors to give the shot to all 11- and 12-year-old children and recommending that it be provided to at least 4 million children eligible under the federal children's vaccine program.]]>
