Olivia Bouler. Have you heard of her? Does her name ring a bell? Probably not. Her name was a mystery to me. She’s not a recognized movie star, or, prominent sports figure. But I feel that I know her. Know her well. Her name has been etched on my mind. I first heard her story, and continued to reflect on it. Over and over I rehearsed it in my mind.
But I need to tell it again. Let it grasp you as it did me. What a story of human ingenuity and creativity. I can’t bottle it up inside any longer. Allow it to slip through the cracks. Olivia’s story will amaze you. Shock you. Excite you. Draw you like the pull of a powerful magnet. You’ll want to throw your arms around her and give Olivia a generous outpouring of your appreciation and love.
My introduction to Olivia came through the media news sources that surrounded the Gulf Coast oil spill. Do you remember that horrendous day? Who can possibly forget it? Blot it out of the mind? Put it behind you? Media sources unveiled it. Sent it through the airwaves. Placed it on the tube. Described it on the written page. The disaster broke my heart. Crushed me. Sent me into a downward spiral. Instilled a sense of fright. It made me aware that my planet faces a crippling catastrophe. Serious dangers lie ahead, if not outright destruction.
Like a host of other mud slingers, or should I say, oil slingers, I joined the chorus of noisy critics. I cried. Wept. Paced the floor. Screamed inside. I wanted to give BP a long drawn out tongue lashing. A biting and bitter piece of my mind. Dethrone them. Close their business operation. Remove them from the planet. Snowballing questions rose inside me like: Why was this allowed to happen? Who was responsible for it happening? Isn’t there a way BP can shut down this horror picture show? If they can’t, who can enable us to avert the dangers that lie ahead?
We are intelligent people. Scientifically alert. In possession of knowledge and skill. Boast creative inventions that boggle the mind. With all of our knowledge and insight, Online Generic pills certainly something can be done. Immediately. Without further delay.
Here is where Olivia arrives on the scene. Not as a critical voice. Nor with mean-spirited and brash utterances. Hateful resentment. But as a positive voice. A caring voice. An empathetic voice. For Olivia has put in place a counter movement to the tragedy. Not a movement to slam BP like myself and others have done. She’s painting a new smiling picture on the horizon of the mounting suffering and uncertainty cialis tabs 20mg that confronts humanity.
Olivia is an eleven year old fifth grader who lives with her parents in Islip, New York. She loves birds. Adores them. Cares deeply about them. Seeks their welfare. Contributes her abilities to support and protect them. Her love for these feathery creatures has enlarged into something phenomenal. Colossal. Stupendous.
When Olivia heard about the devastating effects the oil spill had on wildlife, she moved into high gear. Without waiting. Immediately. She contacted the Audubon Society to offer her services. Why? The Gulf Coast was very special to Olivia. She had grown up vacationing here with her parents, Jim and Nadine. She had fallen in love with the area. Literally. Thus, she couldn’t set idly by and allow this immense suffering to continue without doing something. Thus, Olivia offered her talents. She was committed to making a difference. She wanted to help in the rescue of her feathery friends.
But how could an eleven year old grade school girl help? Make a significant difference? Turn things around? Good questions. I wondered the same thing.
Yet, Olivia was not restricted by such questions. Not at all. She had confidence in her abilities. She knew what needed to be done. For you see, Olivia is an artist. A developing artist. A gifted artist. So, she wanted to sketch and paint pictures of birds, then offer the proceeds from her artwork to finance the rescue.
A dumb idea? A little girls fanciful dream? Something that will never take shape? Become effective? You must read the rest of Olivia’s story.
Those who gave donations to one of five different organizations, the Audubon Society included, would be sent an original piece of her artwork. One hundred and thirty drawings have been sent to donors at this writing. And sixty thousand dollars has been raised.
America Online has also become involved in Olivia’s project. They have unveiled a gallery of her work. Additionally, they have donated twenty-five thousand dollars to the Audubon Society in Olivia’s name.
Does this story confound you like it does me? Touch your heart strings? Shake your inner world? Make you aware of a child’s uncanny ability? That a child can make a difference? Lead the way? Leave one breathless and agog? People everywhere are inspired. Singing Olivia’s praises. Lauding and clapping for her. Cheering her on. Enjoying the contribution, she’s making to humanity.
As I reflected on Olivia’s story, Scripture suddenly leaped out at me. For the disciples of Jesus were overly concerned with who would be greatest in His kingdom. Without hesitation Jesus called for a small child to sit among them. He then taught the following: “ … whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (see Matthew 18:4).
What did Jesus mean? In what way are children “humble?” Children are selfless. Unoccupied with me, myself and I. With being great. On the other hand, the disciples are selfish and self-absorbed. Thus, a little child is able to lead them? Why? Because they live in an unselfish manner.
Olivia fits well into the scriptural phrase, “… a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). For her selfless actions on behalf of the Gulf Coast were directed outward toward the welfare of God’s creation. She reached beyond herself and saw the needs of others.
“Let me ask you, Olivia, why did you do it?”
“It’s very time consuming,” she said, “but everything’s for the birds.”
