I thought I'd start this week with a little story I just read on Paulo Coelho's Blog - it really ties up some of the things I've been thinging on lately - That all of this isn't about what you're not, but rater what you are and what you do.
Here's the story:
A Samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to ask advice.
– Why do I feel so inferior? – he asked, as soon as the monk finished his prayers. – I have faced death many times, have defended those who are weak, Nevertheless, upon seeing you meditating, I felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever.
– Wait. Once I have attended to all those who come to see me today, I shall answer you.
The samurai spent the whole day sitting in the temple gardens, watching the people go in and out in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same patience and the same illuminated smile on his face.
At nightfall, when everyone had gone, he demanded:
– Now can you teach me?
The master invited him in and lead him to his room. The full moon shone in the sky, and the atmosphere was one of profound tranquility.
– Do you see the moon, how beautiful it is? It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once again.
“But sunlight is much brighter, and can show the details of the landscape around us: trees, mountains, clouds.
“I have contemplated the two for years, and have never heard the moon say: why do I not shine like the sun? Is it because I am inferior?
– Of course not – answered the samurai. – The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty. You cannot compare the two.
– So you know the answer. We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes, and making it possible to make the world a better place; the rest are mere appearances.
I heard of this thing called a Vote Mob - which is like a flash mob, but around the idea that Youth have a voice and that Apathy doesn't rule. Rick Mercer stared this when he ranted about it last week - I've now seen videos from Guelph, McGill and Fredericton NB where youth are organizing themselves to get active about making a change. This is very similar to the above story as youth are figuring out that it's less about who they are, and more about what they can do...
This is very promising and exciting to me, an engaged community is a great community where people care about/for each other and as soon as people are respected for who they are and valued for what they can do - everybody can start to freely share their gifts - making New Brunswick the place I know it can be.
Here is a little video on Sharing
Group Accelerated Innovation on Poverty Reduction - this is our chance to Overcome Poverty Together...
Big public meeting @ the KC Irving in Bathurst tomorrow night, will we see you there?
