There is an incredible amount of pain in this world. There is hunger, fear, ignorance and hatred. There is lack of compassion and empathy. Even worse there is apathy. For those who say they care, it is often times from them that stems the most hatred. Today anyone can take a preconceived notion and have it substantiated by not just their neighbors but hundred of mediums at their fingertips. Imagine ten people in a small community with different thoughts and ideas. Perhaps in the past those ten people would figure out a common thread that unites them. They could incorporate their differences towards a compromise because they were forced to get along by proximity. There was immense value for humanity in that. However today they now are able to make their differences grow stronger by citing ideas of those who are no where close to them. We have created a portal of contention rather to one of unity. Peace begins with helping those who are closest in proximity to you. War begins by seeing those closest to you as foes and seeing those further away from us as allies. Let us begin to silence the outsiders and realize that peace will only be obtained by helping those whom are closest to us. When we centralize our efforts on a broad scale is when we fail, for peace cannot be mandated upon us from above. It must begin from a small seed in the ground and grown upwards. Nature gives us guidance. A willow tree that provides so much protection from the elements is not started with its beautiful trees and branches. It is started with one seed, which grows roots, which grows to a trunk, which eventually grows to shading branches and leaves. However, we know those beautiful, shading branches and trees can easily be cut down or trimmed back. Especially if they have grown so high to obstruct the view. It can be so hard to remember that little seed that started it all.  Except when one day, when we have cut back those branches and we realize we need the shelter from the wind or the sun that those branches provided. It is only then that we have realized what we have done. When we realize how far we have deviated from that little seed.

Don’t ignore or forget your roots. It will come back to burn you when there is no shelter from the elements.