“I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

Edward Everett Hale

Wednesday 2 March 2011

"Still I am one"

The title of my blog is taken from a quotation by Edward Everett Hale, a 19th century Unitarian minister and writer. The full quote reads as follows:

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

For me, this sums up where I'm coming from as a Unitarian. All of us are little individuals, but each one of us can do "the something we can do". In my case, this involves my job, my training and my involvement with sundry Unitarian societies. I feel so blessed to be able to serve such worthy things.

2 comments:

  1. I am really looking forward to reading your blog, Sue! Welcome to the Unitarian blogosphere.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This morning I heard the Bengali song Ekla Cholo Re which expresses a similar sort of idea.

    If they answer not to thy call walk alone,
    If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,
    O thou unlucky one,
    open thy mind and speak out alone.

    If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,
    O thou unlucky one,
    trample the thorns under thy tread,
    and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

    If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,
    O thou unlucky one,
    with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart
    and let it burn alone.

    ReplyDelete