The Age of the Dinosaurs and the Age of the Mammals
A speaker at a holistic nursing conference I attended once gave us a great way to put our work and ideas in perspective, to deal with being seen in an unfriendly way, with being thought of as foolish, "unscientific", against the grain.
"When I was a child" he said "I had a very special book on science, written beautifully for children, and wonderfully illustrated. One chapter followed the development of the earth down through the ages of time. I remember especially one picture which showed a mighty panorama, spread across two pages. There were vast green jungles and plains, oceans and rivers, giant ferns and palm trees, and in the far background, mountains and erupting volcanoes. Everywhere in this panorama there roamed, fought, swam, flew dinosaurs, in their many varieties. At the top of the page, enscrolled, was "The Age of the Dinosaurs".
"When I was a child" he said "I had a very special book on science, written beautifully for children, and wonderfully illustrated. One chapter followed the development of the earth down through the ages of time. I remember especially one picture which showed a mighty panorama, spread across two pages. There were vast green jungles and plains, oceans and rivers, giant ferns and palm trees, and in the far background, mountains and erupting volcanoes. Everywhere in this panorama there roamed, fought, swam, flew dinosaurs, in their many varieties. At the top of the page, enscrolled, was "The Age of the Dinosaurs".
Thrilled as most boys with dinosaurs and spent quite a lot of time studying this busy landscape. But after awhile I discovered one small detail : namely that in the far lower corner, there looked very cautiously out into that fierce world a small brown mouse.
When I now - thoughtfully - turned the page, I saw again a similar broad and busy view ; but completely transformed. Gone were ferns and palms, replaced by more familiar forests and trees. Gone also were dinosaurs - and in their place, another scroll proclaimed "The Age of the Mammals". Here were lions, wolves, bears, rabbits, deer, horses, cattle, everywhere the eye could see.
at"Friends" our speaker said "you're like the mouse in the first picture. So far you're few - and when you're not ignored, you're harassed or attacked. But someone must be first ; and one day the page will turn. So keep learning. Keep talking and keep meeting together - keep doing what you do. Because the Age of the Dinosaurs will not last forever. Your day is going to come !"