Elizabeth Wood

Dear Friends,

I heard a report, recently, about a High School teacher who brought a Buddhist monk into his class of college-bound seniors. When the monk entered the room, he said nothing, but walked to the board and wrote these words:

 “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help Mom with the dishes.”

The students laughed, then listened intently as he spoke. He told them “Statistically speaking, it is unlikely that any of you will have the opportunity to run into a burning orphanage and rescue an infant. But in the smallest gesture of kindness—a warm smile, holding the door for the person behind you, shoveling the driveway of the elderly neighbor—you have committed an act of immeasurable profundity, because to each of us, our life is our universe.”

I think it is easy to become overwhelmed by all the suffering and need we see around us. Famine, disease, war, civil strife, homelessness, relentless poverty. We see it on TV and in the newspapers, we see it in reports from overseas, and we see it right here in our own community.

In the face of such immense problems, it is easy to become despondent and to lose hope. We cannot possibly meet all the needs, raise or donate the funds it would take—find the resources to even make a dent. But we are called not to give up. We are called to be always working to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth, to do what we can, to give what we are able. In the words of Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

Today, let’s commit to carrying out those small acts of kindness that we are presented with every day. Let’s help Mom with the dishes.

 —Elizabeth