by Pete Stieler
Being self-employed for the last eight years, I’ve had my share of economic setbacks. Such an event led to a severe downsizing mode a few years back...we moved into a very small apartment. My business partner described it as a shoebox...with shoes in it! The very low rent offered by the apartment complex attracted many renters who were not terribly inspired people (I’m phrasing this as pleasantly as I can).
My wife Laurie, has a very special flair for decorating in themes...i.e. the jungle look, the art deco thing...crazy fifties stuff and doing it very inexpensively. She gets most of her stuff at yard sales, church rummage sales, etc. and makes this kind of thing look fun.
Laurie started putting flowers out on the porch. Some neighbors started to do the same thing. The folks next door got to know us and soon after, they started to pick up fun things at yard sales and decorated their place, too. After about a year, there was a noticeable improvement in the way our particular building looked. Laurie has that knack of knowing inherently that little things really count. Others sense that she genuinely cares, and it rubs off on them. We noticed that if the right cards are played, a “2 of flowers beats a 10 of trash” any day!
This kind of influence has very tangible effects. Positive effects. They seem to take off on their own and continue from person to person. Now and then we’ll hear that a friend of a friend planted flowers or hung a wreath...something they wouldn’t ordinarily have done. And it keeps rubbing off. Sometimes gaining momentum and other times waning.
That’s proof enough to me that we are all “one thing”. A vast pond wholly saturated with ripples made by every action and thought from virtually everything existing. These ripples must travel forever in a sense. However, the greatest “influence” occurs mostly near the source, much like our particular apartment building being affected the most.
Give it more time and who knows what more will come from that influence? Our combined social conscience of the human race must be ebbing and flowing constantly. It stands to reason that, given some time, there could easily be a great shift toward tolerance and brotherly love on this planet.
As more people take right action, why shouldn’t we see a major swing toward peace and tolerance? Many things influence people to exercise right action these days...sometimes for somewhat selfish reasons but at least right action. This small shift in behavior can and does have immeasurable effects, especially with time.
Marie Curie, the noted scientist, once said “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individual. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time, share a general responsiblity for all humanity”.
As a card-carrying Theosophist, I often wonder if I’m conducting my thoughts and actions appropriately. It helps me to take note of how Laurie leads her life. I’m reminded that the big picture is made up of very small pictures and I’m constantly inspired to do the little things that matter. As a whole, I suppose we’re all individuals doing seemingly little things...sending major ripples through our pond!