The Wheelchair Priniciple

I once heard a story about a little boy in a wheelchair. One snowy morning he came to school to see the janitor frantically trying to clear the snow off the steps to the school while hundreds of school children filed one by one up the one small path he'd already cleared. The little boy in the wheelchair politely asked the frustrated janitor if he could clear off the wheelchair ramp, to which the exasperated janitor replied "there's hundreds of them and only one of you so you'll just have to wait". The little boy smiles and replies "But if you clear off the ramp first, we can all get in."

Lately I've had several experiences that have reiterated the moral of this story. ie. in most cases, if you focus on the needs of the most needy of the group, you'll meet the needs of the rest of the group as well. My Bishop, who I respect greatly, always says that he approaches each member as if they are carrying some great burden and is always amazed to find out how many people really are. It's both comforting and slightly heartbreaking to realize how much we all really have in common and how easily we can help one another if we will offer our sincerity, openly explain and accept help when needed, and seek to follow the spirit in all our doings.