My sister, Jackie, recommended a book to me some time ago. Three Cups of Tea turned out to be a compelling read, but then, in high school I was a reader of Dr. Tom Dooley's books about his experience as an American doctor working in Indo-China (what we then called Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) in the 1950's.
Now Mortenson has a new book out, Stones into Schools. If you have any interest in alternatives to guns and bombs in the middle east generally and Afghanistan and Pakistan specifically, and if you have not read any of Mortenson's work, either title is worth your time. If you are interested in the role of women in society, Mortenson's work offers a perspective most Americans don't consider. If you are interested in education, Mortenson's determination is inspiring. If you are interested in mountain climbing in the Himalayas, Three Cups of Tea might prove interesting.
These books are an example of the difference one person can make, of the concept that each mountain, each pearl, begins with a single grain of sand. Even the US Army concedes that Mortenson makes a difference. He has spoken to cadets at the US Military Academy, West Point.
"On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Admiral Mike Mullen, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff paid a visit to Pushgur school, in a remote valley of Afghanistan, to inaugurate one of Mortenson’s new schools, to highlight the military’s new strategy to advocate empowering local communities, build relationships and the significance of education to promote peace.... " (Greg Mortenson - Wikipedia)
Would that I could find a way to make that kind of a difference in someone's life. Can't do it sitting at home, or going to work and coming home every day, or otherwise caught in my comfortable ruts. Making a difference means stepping out of the box, making new trails. May I have the courage to leave my ruts.
Happy New Year!!!
Don't forget to pray ....
Well said Bonnie. I loved Three Cups of Tea and will look forward to reading Stones into Schools. You will laugh, but I even went so far as to follow Greg's speaking schedule for awhile hoping to catch him in CA.
ReplyDeleteWould that I could find a way to make that kind of a difference in someone's life. Can't do it sitting at home, or going to work and coming home every day, or otherwise caught in my comfortable ruts. Making a difference means stepping out of the box, making new trails. May I have the courage to leave my ruts.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, had you ANY idea as to how I would like to do such things,---well, I do not know. Somehow, we MUST find ways to implement such action in our own spheres. How do we do it?
Bonnie, you are so on-target. We MUST find ways to make a difference in any way we can!
ReplyDeleteGene