Weekly Meditation

You know the disease called “sleeping sickness.” There is also a sleeping sickness of the soul. Its most dangerous aspect is that one is unaware of its coming. That is why you have to be careful. As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference, the moment you become aware of loss of a certain seriousness, of longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning. Your soul suffers if you live superficially. -- Albert Schweitzer

I must combat Dr. Schweitzer’s “sleeping sickness” constantly. I find myself asking, “why go to work today; what can I do anymore to be relevant; why bother, nothing really changes; etc?” I have to remind myself that the way out of my “Grand Funk” is not by solving world hunger or curing all diseases in an afternoon, although that would be nice. We avoid the downward spiral of indifference by making the smallest of gestures. We write a note to a friend just telling them we are thinking of them. We ask the begger on the corner his name and call out to him when we pass by, “ Hello Clarence, how are things going.” We plant a tree, we bring flowers home, we compliment a co-worker, or we simply smile. These are not acts of indifference. Every act, every gesture, every step we take can combat indifference and heal our soul.