An excerpt from a letter written by Theophan the Recluse. I read this in a book called "Finding Calcutta" about a woman who went to India and worked with Mother Teresa. I highly recommend the book.
I've found that what is written in the excerpt below can be very uncomfortable to read because a lot of us today are guilty of this exact thing, I know that I am. I very often find myself so concerned with the big picture, with how to "fix" society and the worlds problems yet am blind to the impacts I could be making each and every day with the situations right in front of me. I think its a matter of humility sometimes. Being willing to accept the smaller callings that the Lord has for us in the every day as opposed to some grand world changing calling. I dunno... I'm still pondering the idea. For now, you can read the quote and let it simmer.
"The fact is, however, that "mankind" or "the people" does not exist as a person for whom you could do something right now. It consists of individual persons: By doing something for one person, we are doing it within the general mass of humanity. If each one of us did what was possible to do for whoever was standing right in front of our eyes, instead of goggling at the community of mankind, then all people, in aggregate, would at each moment be doing that which is needed by those in need, and, by satisfying thier needs, would establish the welfare of all mankind, which is made up of haves and have-nots, the weak and the strong. But those who keep thoughts of the welfare of all mankind inattentively they do not have the opportunity to perform a particular work, they accomplish nothing towards the main purpose of life."
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