The Starfish - Making a Difference
I just finished watching “Borders” a DVD with Jennifer Lopez about the senseless border murders of hundreds, if not thousands of young women in Juarez, Mexico. Apparently very little is being done about it, because of all the political and financial hypocrisy and ramifications of investigating the murders.
The injustice, unfairness and misery in the world is staggering. No wonder we are losing so many beautiful people to various drugs, depression, alcoholism and life debilitating choices. It’s hard for “sweet people” of conscience and good will, especially the impressionable young to continue to hope and progress in such a negative, unkind world environment. Many times the cry for help all over the world is deafening and overwhelming.
Many become disillusioned and feel no matter what they say or do, or who they vote for, or how much they cry out in frustration for justice and fairness, the Big Guns continue to win. Pain and suffering continue to exist, and it’s hard to bear the fact that our fellow beings (and animals) are suffering, in spite of our spiritual and religious beliefs geared to console us. The need for help all over the world is overwhelming. What can we do to save our own psychology and heart, so we can make a difference to others?
(An Anecdote and possible solution)
David & Larry were walking on a beach covered with thousands of starfish that landed on shore dying. David picks up a starfish and throws it in the water.
“Why’d you do that? What differences does it make, there are millions of them?” shouted Larry.
Larry throws another starfish in the water, “It makes a difference to That One!”
Every little bit of effort counts. Every little bit of good-will counts. Every helpful thought counts. Every kind heart counts. Every bit of happiness we can muster up counts. And every helpful action counts! We do what we can. And we can only serve to our own capacity and each person knows what that is. If we get angry, mean or confused, relax, the next moment is a chance to be Happy and do what we can.
Some of us fall apart because we can’t do enough – and that’s where the doubt and depression begins to creep in. It’s ok, if in-between taking care of our children or being at our job for 9 hours, we go to a yoga class, instead of passing out leaflets against the war. It’s ok, if we send $30 to “save the children” instead $150, when we know it will cause hardship for ourselves and the family. It’s ok to take care of ourselves first, so we can have enough energy and happiness to make others second, and serve them with a genuine helpful smile, instead of a waning one. It’s ok, if we can only throw in 10 starfish instead of a hundred.
A formula that’s helped me in the midst of this obvious injustice, hopelessness and heartbreaking cry for help is: Laughing openly, speaking freely, screaming and yelling regularly, regretting momentarily, giving unconditionally, taking graciously, crying gratefully, Loving deeply, absolutely always eating chocolate daily, and doing what I can, knowing that many others are also doing what they can.
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Comments (1)
“It makes a difference to That One!”
Thank you for posting this Dvorah...
Comment #1 Posted by: Suza | March 22, 2008 04:51 AM