March 09, 2003

Downstream

I read somewhere that pebbles in a stream are unaware that they are altering the entire flow of the river because they can't see downstream. While this seems poetic (at least in its original form) I never really "ah-ha" got it until yesterday.

I was driving home from work and I was in the right lane with about three cars behind me. I was slowing down for a red light and noticed that the car behind me had on his right turn blinker, so I got over into the left lane.

He was then able to take a right on red at the light along with the three people behind him. I, however, sat at the light for two entire minutes. During those two minutes the three cars that I had set out into the world would have been sitting behind me at the light.

Whatever I end up doing in life, nobody really knows if I have changed the world more by moving over and letting them past than any other action that I will ever do.

Because I just know - I can't see downstream.

March 9, 2003 08:26 PM