Holding Up the Sky

Several years ago I saw my dear friend Afton perform in a play of folktales from around the world.  She was brilliant, as ever, and her performance in this small small tale has stuck with me.  In fact, on the days doubt and frustration stalk me I find myself thinking of her and saying, “This is what I can do.  I have to do my part.”

Humming birds, if we all have the courage to do our part we can turn this thing around.

One day an elephant saw a hummingbird lying on its back with its tiny feet up in the air.

“What are you doing?” asked the elephant.

The hummingbird replied, “I heard that the sky might fall today, and so I am ready to help hold it up, should it fall.”

The elephant laughed cruelly. “Do you really think,” he said, “that those tiny feet could help hold up the sky?”

The hummingbird kept his feet up in the air, intent on his purpose, as he replied, “Not alone. But each must do what he can. And this is what I can do.”
–  A Chinese Folktale