The bigger picture

On a recent assignment with my cameraman and driver, I was given the task of working out the way. We had been provided with a type-written route, divided into small detailed sections, and these I interpreted with great attention.

The result was that I found myself submerged in looking for turns here and crossroads there, and I lost the main trend of the route. I directed the driver into several wrong turns, and found the journey tiring in spite of our passing through beautiful countryside.

On the return journey, I resolved to improve matters. I equipped myself with a larger map showing at a glance the whole of the country covered by the complete route. From this I could see the main direction in which we should be travelling all the time and the principal roads we should be following.

Viewing the journey as a whole, and concentrating on the broad trends, rather than the detail, made the route much easier to find and made the journey interesting and enjoyable. This principle of wholeness which made my road travel more successful and enjoyable should be applied by all of us to our journey through life.

The reason why life seems so irksome to some people is that they are too submerged in the petty details of everyday happenings. They have not given sufficient thought to how their life fits into the big picture.

Such folk are like the woman who wears herself out with worrying over trifle problems within her own four walls to such an extent that she blinds herself to the wonderful opportunities waiting for her outside her home. She is so submerged with her domestic and personal anxiety that she misses the wonderful world around her and of the friendships the kindly neighbouring folks offer her.

The reason why some men are bored with their work is that they are so engrossed in their own particular day to day routine and duties that they fail to open their eyes to a significance of their job in relation to the work of the organization as a whole.

There is an old war story which talks about a group of soldiers during the First World War who were bored with what seemed to them a meaningless job of making nuts and bolts. Until one day a captain of a battleship which had been fitted with these nuts and bolts made by these soldiers came and told them how grateful he was for the efficient service they rendered to him and his crew during their many perilous battles out at sea.

The Captain explained to the battle starved soldiers who wanted a piece of the action rather than making nuts and bolts, the disaster that might have befallen on him and his crew had their products not been made so accurately. And he gave their work new meaning.

Philosophers from Plato's time onwards have emphasized the importance of each member of the community seeing his individual part not as an isolated unit, but as a part of the whole. Plato's theory was that each man would live the richest life possible if he used such talents as he had, no - matter how few or of how low a grade – for the good of the community.

So, no -matter what weaknesses you may seem to have, or how little gifted you may imagine your self to be, you can if you try, make a valuable contribution to society. Probably the way in which you will make your biggest contribution to society is to join a society whose main interest is your main interest – photography, drama, animals, music, writing or whatever it is. By this you can link your knowledge, ability and experience to those of others with similar interests, and thus give effect to something far more valuable than you or any one other individual could have effected alone.

By joining an organization where you meet people on a common platform due to a common interest, you will not only find an ideal channel for the expression of your talent, but you will free yourself from self consciousness and inferior feelings. The common interest, and your enthusiasm to contribute to the general good, will lift you right above any old fears you may have had, concerning yourself.