You’ve Got The Whole World In Your Hands

As we begin another new year, another new, another beginning we look forward to all that we desire and strive for. The good that we desire for ourselves, is the good that we desire for others and vice-versa. Let us focus on that which we have control of; what we say, what we do, and how we respond. All that we need and the world which we all want is in our hands.  May 2013 be the year!!

There is the story of a young and cynical man who went to challenge a great old wise man, a seer. Many people went to speak to the wise man when he came to town. When it was the young mans turn, he put out his cupped hand and asked the wise man what was in his hand. The wise man replied, “It is a little bird”, and he was right. The young man was stunned, but he was still cynical, so he asked whether it was dead or alive. The wise man knew that if he replied, “it’s dead”, the young man would open his hand and the bird would fly away. If he replied “it was alive”, the young man would crush the bird in his hand. The wise man’s reply was “the answer is all in your hands.”*

“Each person must see himself as though the entire world were held in balance and any deed he may do could tip the scales.” – Maimonides

*I wish I remembered the source for this story so that I could give credit where it’s due

updated from the original post of 12/30/11