
I hate saying that. It feels so very wrong. It's not that I wouldn't like to help them. It's not that I am not appalled at what is happening over there. I have been wrestling with my guilty feelings lately. What have I done to make the world a better place? I started by taking inventory of the areas that I'd love to 'fix'. My to-do list looks like this:
Free Tibet
Heal the hole in the ozone layer
Cure Cancer
Save the endangered species
Overhaul the public school system
Raise my own kids
Defend the gays and lesbians
Teach people how to be happy
Solve world hunger
Find loving homes for the orphans
Save the rainforest
Rid the planet of pollution
Implement a clean economical fuel system
Design a quality inexpensive health care system
End divorces and broken homes
Clean out the political system
Create world peace
Find Atlantis and solve the mystery of the pyramids
Scientifically prove somebody's religion is true
Psychologically heal the inmates who want it
End all superficial fakeness
Save the children
Stop racism
Bring an end to lethargy
Stop terrorism
Save the coral reefs
Change America's focus from being '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 of these things in my lifetime? Even if I delegate certain areas to my kids, and make them take a blood oath that they will force my grandkids to carry on with the work on this list until it is finished, I cannot possible hope to solve all of the world's problems. Then I got to thinking about getting up on my soapbox and preaching to everyone that they need to come help me. There is just so much that needs done and you and I both know that my list is not even complete. I would be lucky if I can do one of those things really well during my lifetime.
I had to sit and really think about my own resources, the natural gifts I was born with, and what amount of time I want to commit to doing good deeds. I had to analyze the list and what it would really take to accomplish each of those things. What I came 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 secretly wish someone else would do. That's not a bad thing, it is what it is. I may really want to cure cancer and other diseases, but I know that deep down I don't have any resources, skills, training, or education to apply to the problem. It's really not my job. All I can do is to support those who are meant to do that work. If I had the money, I'd dump a fortune into their pockets to make sure they had all of the tools they needed. But I 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 my money, then I'd say yes. Donate money to all of those causes. But, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about actually rolling up my sleeves and getting to work helping make the world a better place. I personally cannot fly all over the planet adding just a touch of my energy here and there. To truly create the huge changes needed to fix those problems, I would have to really give my undivided attention and focus. One hundred people giving a moment of their time is not as effective and powerful as just two or three people giving it all of their time and focus. If I am going to make a difference, then I will have to narrow the list down.
One by one, I had to scratch off the list those things that I personally could not do. That's not to say that I won't someday be able to help finance them. For now, I have to look at what I can 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 from the list those things that were truly deeply mine. They are all areas that I also happen to feel a personal calling to be involved in. Everything else, I have to let go and trust that someone else will recognize that they have the talents and resources to become part of the solutions. I have to trust that whoever is meant to take on those jobs will feel a calling deep in their soul and that they'll heed that calling.
Another hard part for me is not knowing the divine plan. When bad things happen, we can sort of take comfort in knowing that there must be some divine reason. Somehow the challenges and dramas of life always lead to enlightenment, joy, new self esteem, or some other cosmic gift. Some things are meant to be. Some things are not meant to be. So, when I take that deep breath and trust that someone else is going to pick up that particular problem and give their life to solving it, I have to also make peace with the idea that it may not happen the way I would like to see it happen, or along the timeline that I'd like to see it happen. Who will free Tibet while I'm busy working on fixing these other things? Will they be saved in a timely manner? Will our government dive in to save them the way that they felt called to save other people? I can only pray that someone else picks up the baton because I cannot. Is it your job? Will you free Tibet?
Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge
About The Author
Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to life in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, and parenting. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. Go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net to read more of her articles and to get a free preview of one of her books.
AP - Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage.
AP - Pink slips are piling higher as companies scramble to cut costs even deeper to survive the country's economic and financial storms.
AP - Pointing with concern to "red ink as far as the eye can see," President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs — even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.
AP - Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light. Burris said with a smile he expected to join them "very shortly."
AP - Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.
AP - Rain and high winds lashed Washington state Wednesday, causing widespread avalanches, mudslides, flooding and road closures as the heavy snowfall that has buried parts of the state began to rapidly melt.
AP - The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats to the Jan. 20 event.
AP - Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.
AP - Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, a week after being fired by the New York Jets. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that Mangini will be introduced Thursday at a news conference at the team's headquarters in Berea.
Reuters - Israeli warplanes bombed targets across the Gaza Strip on Thursday and tanks advanced on Palestinian guerrillas as U.S. backing for a truce proposal raised expectations of an end to the offensive.
Reuters - A fresh wave of profit warnings and job cuts soured investor sentiment on Thursday after an employment report suggested U.S. job losses in December could be the worst in almost 60 years.
Reuters - In an abrupt switch, Democratic leaders began talks on Wednesday to swear in Roland Burris, appointed by embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Reuters - The U.S. budget deficit will swell to a record $1.186 trillion in fiscal 2009, congressional forecasters said on Wednesday, the result of an economic recession that has cut tax receipts and caused massive government bailouts of banks and automakers.
Reuters - The case of Ali al-Marri, accused of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent and held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, will be an early test for President-elect Barack Obama.
Reuters - An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning has made 388 people sick across 42 states, sending 18 percent of them to the hospital, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday.
Reuters - Accused swindler Bernard Madoff should be jailed for violating a court order by mailing $1 million worth of diamonds, watches and other jewelry to friends and family, U.S. prosecutors told a court on Wednesday.
AFP - Israeli warplanes bombed suspected arms-smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza early Thursday, as diplomats worked to secure a ceasefire in an offensive that has killed 700 Palestinians.
AFP - Envoys from Russia and Ukraine go to Brussels on Thursday for emergency EU-brokered talks to resolve a bitter gas fight between the two ex-Soviet giants that has engulfed Europe in a major energy crisis.
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