[This article was kindly shared with us by Maithri Goonetilleke. a medical doctor from Melbourne, Australia. Maithri is also co-founder/director of Possible Dreams International, Inc - a non profit organisation designed to bring tangible hope into the lives of those facing the challenges of extreme poverty, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and endemic disease. Currently the main focus of their work are the gracious people of Swaziland. Find out more ...]

Recently, I've been thinking about our connection... about our power to touch and move each others lives in powerful and intimate ways.

Several of my friends have recently shared with me different ideas about 'the butterfly effect.'

Have you heard of it? I dont think it has much to do with the Ashton Kutcher movie of the same name ;)... Essentially it is a theory of cause and effect, postulated by a great mathematician.

It says in the elegant language of numbers that when a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil. She creates tiny changes in the atmosphere... which can ultimately lead to a tornado (or the prevention of a tornado forming) in Texas.

Essentially it says that the tornado happens or doesnt happen because the butterfly flaps its wings.

This initially appears counter-intuitive... but essentially what is being said here, is that every thing we do matters...

Every thought we think. Every word we say.

Every tender beat of our own painted wings.

Far from being trivial or 'lost to the winds'... The 'little things' we do have the power to change the course of the winds themselves....

One of the most important lessons we can teach ourselves and our children is the truth in Mother Teresa's words "In this life we can not do great things. Only little things with great love."

And the wonder of it all... is that hidden in the heart of every nameless act of grace, every forgotten splinter of love, every unheard whisper of peace.... are the seeds of global change...

"As is the microcosm, so is the macrocosm."

I want to invite you, my beloved friend reading these words, to do something with me now to put this butterfly effect into action...

Find a quiet place whereever you are and light a candle.

Take 5 deep breaths.... then 5 more...

And whisper (out loud or in your mind) the simple words.... Love, laughter, harmony, peace....

Just 4 words.... repeated softly, tenderly in your heart... by the light of one small candle.

Feel your connection to every other person, doing the same, around the world....

And in your minds eye, See the butterflies opening their wings and dancing through the wild skies....

We are the ones we've been waiting for,

Love the world into change,

Maithri

[This article was kindly shared with us by Maithri Goonetilleke. a medical doctor from Melbourne, Australia. Maithri is also co-founder/director of Possible Dreams International, Inc - a non profit organisation designed to bring tangible hope into the lives of those facing the challenges of extreme poverty, malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and endemic disease. Currently the main focus of their work are the gracious people of Swaziland. Find out more ...]

The Happy Cow website and all articles on it are created entirely voluntarily and free of charge. However, if you feel that anything on the site has been of value to you, you may wish to make a voluntary contribution to the upkeep of the site. Click on the 'Donate' button below.

If you have an inspiring tale or some interesting philosophy to share with us, please feel free to e-mail your ideas to contributions@happycow.org.uk.

Join the Happy Cow Facebook Group!