[blockquote source=”Wangari Maathai”]”I don’t really know why I care so much. I just have something inside me that tells me that there is a problem, and I have got to do something about it. I think that is what I would call the God in me. All of us have a God in us, and that God is the spirit that unites all life, everything that is on this planet. It must be this voice that is telling me to do something, and I am sure it’s the same voice that is speaking to everybody on this planet — at least everybody who seems to be concerned about the fate of the world, the fate of this planet.”[/blockquote]

One of my favorite stories is told by author and activist, Wangari Maathai – in which she shares the value and importance of that ‘one single action.’

The story is about a hummingbird who lived deep in the forest with the other animal creatures. They lived, for the most part, in perfect harmony – except on those days, when the bigger animals would tease the hummingbird about her ‘smallness.’

Until one day, when a fire raged through the forest – and all the animals fled in terror, giving chase from this fiery inferno. Why, even the mighty elephant turned tail to the wind – fearful that he, too, might soon be engulfed.

But, as the animals looked back – they felt the weight of despair, in leaving this…their only ‘real’ home.

“When they reached a safe distance some of the animals stopped to look at the raging fire, and noticed a small spot of red in the blue sky, circling back and forth, from a clear, cool lake to the blazing, burning forest… What was it? It was the red-throated hummingbird! And in her beak she ferried a few small drops of water to try to stop the fire. She flew back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth again.”

Oh, and how those animals all laughed at this site. Imagine, this tiny little bird with such big notions.

“You’re too tiny,” they shouted. “And Your beak is too small. Who are you to think that you can put out this fire?”

Undeterred by the impossibility of it all, the little hummingbird answered, “I am doing the very best that I can.”

Until, slowly those flames faded to embers – a glowing memory of what they once used to be.

You see, even a hummingbird can put out a forest fire. And, in the end, this hummingbird’s love of the forest was much greater than any of her fears.

There’s much to be learned from this story – that we must always try to hold passion to our hearts, even when face those seemingly impossible odds. To have faith that these wings of hope shall carry us through, to all those places that others may fear to tread.

And, thanks to you – our ‘fire’,  that of the use of harsh pesticides on our presently pristine lands, has been thankfully, extinguished. In just a few short days, our voices – over 4,000 in total – were most definitely, and certainly heard.

And, proof positive, that we should not ever underestimate the power of a hummingbird’s wings.

In this beautifully animated clip from Dirt! The Movie, Wangari Maathai tells an inspiring tale of doing the best you can under seemingly interminable odds.

My deepest gratitude to you, my dears – without your help, the story of my cows might not ever have been heard.