Power to change...

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty" -Mahatma Gandhi

Following the terrible events that occurred at the Boston Marathon on Monday I began to feel disheartened with humanity. How many of these nonsensical acts of violence are going to occur, and why do they happen? My faith began to waiver in humanity...but then I found this quote by Mahatma Gandhi (he always seems to 'speak' to me at just the right moment) and my attitude was changed...my thoughts began to shift. 

Events such as Boston will continue to occur as long as humans breathe. Wars will wage and hate and ignorance will rear its ugly head. But , there will also be peace that flows and love and compassion in the world to battle the darkness of hate.

I may only be one, but I am one of many.

I am one tiny drop in the vast ocean of humanity, but sometimes one drop is all it takes to initiate a ripple of change.

So, I may only be one, but one can make a difference. 

I will make a difference...

Setting Sail and Weighing Anchor

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

 - Grace Hopper

My initial reaction to this quote was "Tell that to the USS Arizona"...but then that got me to thinking...

Not all oceans are safe all the time, just like they aren't dangerous all the time. The same goes for various ports...If life is like the ocean, what are the ports? To me...the ports are our friends, family, co-workers, and yes..strangers. And just as in the case of the USS Arizona, not all ports,though they are meant to be, are safe...

 We are all sailing through life. The ocean isn't always calm nor is life always easy. The waters get rough, hard to navigate...and sometimes ships loose their way. Sometimes we loose our way. In times like these we need our ports. We need the lighthouse on shore to guide us in to safety. Into the arms of love and support. 

Some 'ports' don't have a lighthouse, or their light is burnt out too. We have the power and the ability to surround ourselves with positive energy, to surround ourselves with those who give a shoulder to lean on, or cry on...a safe haven to rest during one of life's storms. Or a place to find courage to face the storms up ahead. We have the power to chose our lighthouse...

We also have the power to be a lighthouse to others...a guiding light when our loved ones are lost. Be a lighthouse, be peace for others...as others are peace for you in this great big ocean of life.