The hurtful things in the world were too much for the wide eyed student to bear.
There was killing and violence, suffering, hate and great despair.
He wanted desperately to do something to change the world but to begin, he did not know where.
So he traveled across the world in search for the one man he believed had the answers he needed to hear.
"How can I change prejudice," he asked. "How can I teach the world not to fear?"
The wise man smiled, "Love those who are different," he said and made his simple answer clear.
"Well what about war and killing? There has to be something I can do."
"Reach out your hand to those who are hurting, and make peace with those who have done wrong to you."
The student scratched his head as he grew more upset. "There is sickness, starvation, abuse and hate. I want to know what I can do before it's too late."
"Visit the sick, feed the hungry, encourage and love," the wise man said while focusing his eyes above. "What you do to one, you do to all, change your ways and the evils of this world will fall."
The student stood in anger, "I want to change the world, not myself. The world is what is hurting, not me, I am well."
The wise man stood, with eyes severe, "I tell you the truth, for every person you hate, there is one that is killed. For every hungry man you ignore, there is a child that starves. For every fight that is not reconciled, a casualty of war. You want to know how to change the world, to do this you must first change yourself. For every greed, every lust, every theft, every lie, every hateful word and prejudice thought, there is a far reaching affect. You've heard, to hate is the same as murder, but now the truth of this is said. Don't focus on what is outside of you to bring peace and suffering to its end, focus on what is inside of you, instead."
The student left and thanked the man. He did not know if what he had said was true, but if doing these things could make a difference if he did not do it, he would be a fool.
Jacob
(Click on Butterfly Title - to find how beautiful you are)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Wow. That was awesome. Thanks for sharing. I was on the verge of tears both times that I read it...because it descibes exactly how I feel. Overwhelmed by all of the pain, suffering and pure evil in this world, yet not being a part of the solution like I could be. This poem has inspired me. It's opened my eyes to see that it doesn't take anything more than humility, in most cases to change the world. I choose now to not let anymore oportunities to change the world pass me by. They're everywhere and they are easier take advatage of than I thought. Every little bit helps...and my little bit could mean the world to one person. Thanks again, for the encouragement, charge and inspiration.
Post a Comment