Once there was a group of three climbers who were trying to reach the peak of a gigantic and treacherous mountain.On their way to the summit, they came across a deep chasm spanning a long distance. As they neared the edge, they realized that a bridge crossing the expanse had recently fallen.
Looking down at the remnants of the bridge, the climbers noticed nine people clinging to the ropes and boards. The climbers called to them, but unfortunately, none of them were strong enough to climb up and save themselves.
The first climber looked down, and felt very uncomfortable at the thought of all the lifting and working that would be involved in saving them. He reasoned to himself: "Helping all of the people would be an impossible task. I'm only one person. Even if I tried I wouldn't make much of a difference." Then, pretending not to see the people, he continued on his way up the mountain.
The second climber looked down, and felt a surge of compassion. Not wanting to look inconsiderate like the first climber, he stooped down and threw out a rope. After working for a few minutes, he pulled up one or two of the hapless individuals. Suddenly he realized that it was taking real work to save the needy, and decided he would much rather go on with his life. The second climber thought to himself: "I have certainly done all that can be expected of me. Normal people would have helped much less. After all, I did more than the first climber." Then, ignoring the cries from the people below, he continued on his way up the mountain.
The third climber looked down, and thought to himself: "If I were in distress and holding on for my life, and someone else had the opportunity to help me, I would want to be saved." He then abandoned his aspirations for reaching the peak of the mountain, and started pulling people up. He continued to do for the rest of his life.
The third climber never successfully saved every person on the fallen bridge. He only saved as many as he could.
"In round numbers there are 7 billion people in the world. Thus, with an estimated 925 million hungry people in the world, 13.1 percent, or almost 1 in 7 people are hungry."
"Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year--five million deaths."
"The world produces enough food to feed everyone. World agriculture produces 17 percent more calories per person today than it did 30 years ago, despite a 70 percent population increase."
Which climber are you?
Looking down at the remnants of the bridge, the climbers noticed nine people clinging to the ropes and boards. The climbers called to them, but unfortunately, none of them were strong enough to climb up and save themselves.
The first climber looked down, and felt very uncomfortable at the thought of all the lifting and working that would be involved in saving them. He reasoned to himself: "Helping all of the people would be an impossible task. I'm only one person. Even if I tried I wouldn't make much of a difference." Then, pretending not to see the people, he continued on his way up the mountain.
The second climber looked down, and felt a surge of compassion. Not wanting to look inconsiderate like the first climber, he stooped down and threw out a rope. After working for a few minutes, he pulled up one or two of the hapless individuals. Suddenly he realized that it was taking real work to save the needy, and decided he would much rather go on with his life. The second climber thought to himself: "I have certainly done all that can be expected of me. Normal people would have helped much less. After all, I did more than the first climber." Then, ignoring the cries from the people below, he continued on his way up the mountain.
The third climber looked down, and thought to himself: "If I were in distress and holding on for my life, and someone else had the opportunity to help me, I would want to be saved." He then abandoned his aspirations for reaching the peak of the mountain, and started pulling people up. He continued to do for the rest of his life.
The third climber never successfully saved every person on the fallen bridge. He only saved as many as he could.
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"In round numbers there are 7 billion people in the world. Thus, with an estimated 925 million hungry people in the world, 13.1 percent, or almost 1 in 7 people are hungry."
"Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 10.9 million child deaths each year--five million deaths."
"The world produces enough food to feed everyone. World agriculture produces 17 percent more calories per person today than it did 30 years ago, despite a 70 percent population increase."
Which climber are you?
All statistics taken from: www.worldhunger.org
But why stop at world hunger? There are many fallen bridges in our world.
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