Amid the torture, the wars, the poverty, the pollution and degradation of the environment, amid the growing storm of intolerance and the dumbing down of the general population, I find myself deeply frustrated and practically helpless at making any significant change.

I watch. I whine. I grieve. But there is very little I can effectually do.

We feed the songbirds, recycle our bottles, grow some of our own food, and provide flowers for the bees. Not much really considering how steep the slope of decline.

There is one act that makes me feel noble: that of carrying a small insect or anole out of my house and into the freedom of nature. For sure these critters probably become dinner for some other critter before sunset, but they have done me no harm, and the senseless act of killing them because they have “invaded my space,” is ludicrous.

It is a mindless act to swat a living thing. Be present. At times it may well be appropriate to kill for safety or to eat the flesh of a fellow creature for sustenance. But do it mindfully. Do it with intention.

During a 1990 interview with the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Bill Moyers once asked if it was acceptable to kill a mosquito. The Dalai Lama thought for a moment and said something like this while miming the hand gestures:

“Well, if it bothers me, I wave it away. And if it comes back, I wave it away again. But if it comes back again . . . [sound of the Dalai Lama hitting his face].” Then he smiled. Mindful. Practical.

The Dalai Lama said something else in that interview. He explained that insects and blades of grass live in harmony with nature, humans do not. He dismissed the idea that humans are better than nature.

The Bible and environmentalists try to tell we are “stewards” of the Earth. We are not. We are part of it, but we have become wholly ignorant of that integration. Our system is based on balance. Killing is not wrong. Indiscriminate killing is. Killing for no reason or perverted reasons is.

We can be mindful and practical every time we have a meal. Learn where your food comes from and how the animals were treated. Make better choices.

And when a small creature enters your home, stop and think. Appreciate the delicate construction of such a tiny animal. Carry it your hands (I recommend physical contact whenever possible) herd it, or capture it in a small cup and release it outside.

You will feel an immense sense of well being. Do not imagine that such an act will cure the ills of the world or absolve you of deplorable and destructive behavior. It will not. But it is a small, mindful step toward becoming a human . . . being.