We are being constantly being bombarded by the problems that we face and sometimes we can get completely overwhelmed.
The story of the humming bird is about this huge forest being consumed by a fire. All the animals in the forest come out and are transfixed as they watch the forest burning and they feel overwhelmed and very powerless, except for this little humming bird. It says, “I am going to do something about this fire.” So it flies to the nearest stream, picks up a drop of water and puts it on the fire, goes up and down, up and down, up and down, as fast as it can.
In the meantime, all the other animals, much bigger ones like the elephant with its big trunk which could bring much more water, are standing there helpless. They say to humming bird, “What do you think you can do? You are too little, this fire is so big. Your wings are so little and your beak is so small, you can only bring a small drop of water at a time.”
But as they continued to discourage him, he turns to them without wasting any time and tells them, “I am doing the best I can.”
That to me is what all of us should do. We should always do like the humming bird. I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don’t want to be like the animals watching as the planet goes down the drain. I will be a humming bird. I will do the best I can.
Background: Given above is a transcript of the story as related by Wangaari Mathai, the Kenyan environmentalist, in an animation clip
from the documentary ‘Dirt!’, made by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow.
Wangari Muta Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. who founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. In 2004 she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. I will post her story at a later date.
The story is said to be of Ethiopian origin. I have shown this clip to many audiences and have seen that it strikes a chord with people.
The same idea is expressed by Anne Lamott, the well-known writer, in her book Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair:
My pastor, Veronica, one Sunday told the story of a sparrow lying in the street with its legs straight up in the air, sweating a little under its feathery arms. A warhorse walks up to the bird and asks, “What on earth are you doing?” The sparrow replies, “I heard the sky was falling, and I wanted to help.”
The horse laughs a big, loud, sneering horse laugh, and says, “Do you really think you’re going to hold back the sky, with those scrawny little legs?”
And the sparrow says, “One does what one can.”
This story feels like a poem. It is beautiful.
I know that a few of us have our own perceptions irrespective of how the crowd behaves. While there was the Australian fire recently, many small acts have saved animals that would have otherwise died. No doubt that the disaster could not be avoided, but little acts of kindness did help the surviving few. This is part of humanity and humility that has no choice whatsoever.
Once, Mullah Nasaruddin was seen picking fishes and putting them into water of almost a dried pond, from among the lakhs of fishes that were struggling to survive. A passerby who was cynical of his efforts asked, “of what use is your effort when there are so many fishes that are dead or are dying ?”. To this Mullah replied, “Oh! it makes all the difference to this fish”, saying this, he put the fish in his hand into water and went about his job unperturbed by the onlooker’s attitude.
Little acts of kindness, has a great deal to do in bringing satisfaction and is a healing balm in times of difficulties. Let us try being Humming Bird wherever and whenever the need arises.
inspires me to continue being a Colibrí …
This is so encouraging to continue the lifestyle we’ve been living…..
A really inspiring story!