What a World

When I contemplate everything that is going on in the world in these times sometimes I feel like throwing up my hands and saying

What a World,

what a world!

Focusing for too long on all of the troubles and tribulations in the world can be overwhelming. Yet I feel that it is necessary to witness and to seek to understand what is going on.

Yesterday I met with a group of artist friends and instead of talking about art, at first, we spent a lot of time talking about the state of the world and of how overwhelming it all is. But one of our members reminded us to take a small action like contacting our elected representatives to speak out about what is important to us. It’s a small action, but multiplied by many concerned citizens can make an impact. There are countless other small actions we can each do each day to move towards a better world.

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good.

What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these – to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.
   ― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

It is like the advice one is given when wanting to begin a creative project and feeling overwhelmed by it. You simply take one small step towards your vision each day.

Do you also feel like saying, “What a world, what a world?”

What will you do today to make a positive difference, my friend? Can you take one small step?

May you walk in beauty.

Note: Photos in today’s post are flower play from yesterday and this morning.