Mar. 22, 2024

PEOPLE POWER

BLOG 41

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

Last Thursday I spent a fulfilling couple of hours preparing Easter baskets for foster children and other underprivileged youngsters. I stumble on the word ‘underprivileged’ because it suggests that a certain segment of society decides what constitutes a ‘privileged’ lifestyle. I’d almost prefer to use the word ‘under-served’ because that suggests society in general owes all of our youngsters an equal opportunity to grow into their full potential.

As naïve as that notion may be, it never hurts to work towards it, which is what happened with regards to the Easter baskets. It was a kind of reverse “loaves and fishes” parable: rather than the story of how a very few baskets circulated at an ancient gathering miraculously provided food for the multitudes, our group of a dozen or so people started with ten empty baskets and ultimately filled twenty-eight of them to the brim with everything from toothpaste and brushes to coloring books and stickers and stuffed animals, colorful eggs and candy kisses. And whatever else I’ve forgotten to mention but which I know will bring delight to many a young child.

My word of the year has been ‘trust’, and this exercise reinforced that quality or ideal in spades. When I signed on to the Easter basket project I envisioned going to Target or Walmart and loading up on such goodies as I imagined a four-to-six year old child might need or want. But, distracted by hosting several of our “nearest and dearest”, I had done absolutely nothing when the appointed day arrived. I found myself debating even going to the gathering, feeling embarrassed to be arriving empty-handed. But I went anyway, trusting that there was yet some way to make a meaningful contribution. As if to affirm this, when I arrived I saw that the work tables and surrounding “floor space” on the grassy field were groaning with bags upon bags of thoughtful, useful and whimsical items. Including, of course, candies galore. And oodles of craft materials to turn ordinary baskets into enchanting works of art.

All that was needed were ‘bodies’ to do decorate the baskets and distribute the goodies among them. I could do that! I might even eat the odd candy…

Needless to say, I’m glad I went, if only to witness the incredible generosity of this “small group of thoughtful and committed citizens”. But there was more to be learned than just trusting it would all work out in the end. While our two dozen plus Easter baskets won’t make a big dent in the glaring needs of the greater community, I realized that it wasn’t up to me to solve all the world’s problems. It was more a case of building “Rome” one small act of kindness at a time. And it led to the discovery of a very positive movement about which I had no prior knowledge.

While looking up the exact wording of Margaret Mead’s quote, I landed on a site called WorldChanging:

“WorldChanging.com works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it’s here. We only need to put the pieces together.”

This seemed congruent with what happened in our Easter basket gathering. In our small way we put the pieces together from the various and assorted offerings that each in our own way brought to the table. I credit a long line of community-minded people who work, in the spirit of Aloha and Ohana, to make life better for the under-served population of Hawaïi Island. I felt I was contributing in small measure to this powerful force that is gathering momentum even as its opposite, the forces of resistance and reactivity are taking the spotlight away from positive change. Doesn’t mean it’s not happening. As the WorldChanging quote goes: “another world is not just possible, it’s here.”

Aum Namah Sivayah

PS I only ate a small snickers bar. My inner child was delighted!