Walking Down a New Street

Today, I would like to share an insightful little poem I came across by Portia Nelson called Autobiography in Five Short Chapters found in her book There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk.

Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost .... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.

As we enter 2009, full of hopes and dreams for this year and the years to come, are we going in, carrying the same bag of beliefs and habits, or are we ready to start making new choices?

My husband Patrick and I just came back from a 11-day trip to Northern Thailand, and it was indeed an eye opener for us. We became more aware as to how each and every one of us can contribute so much more to making this world a better place to live in. While the little things we do, based on the limited abilities we each seem to possess, may seem so minuscule to us, yet in total these very “insignificant” activities can make great significant changes in the lives of those we touch. A little smile, a kind word, a hug, a blessing given… can change the whole course of a life.

One person we met is Pastor Cheah, who started the Agape Children’s Home in Chiangrai. Originally from Penang, Malaysia, Pastor Cheah has now dedicated his life to helping unwanted and abandoned children in Chiangrai. Currently there are 48 children, aged 3 to 17 staying at this home. We celebrated Christmas with them and were indeed amazed and greatly touched to see the simple joy and happiness they have despite the circumstances. We see the older kids taking care of the younger, see how they praise and worship together in dilapidated living conditions, study under dim lights, share the house chores and play together. They may be poor in material goods but they are rich spiritually.

As in the story about the little boy walking on the beach and throwing back the stranded starfish one by one into the sea, undeniably, he can’t help save all the thousands of starfish, but what he does indeed matters to those he manages to help.

So, today, I hope you will think about what you, as one person can do, right now to help someone else have a better day… and then just do it!