The Power of One

In preface. . . this entry has been in my mind since the onset of this blog. It has grown from a small idea to a much larger one and I feel like it is finally time to share. This is going to be a long post, so hopefully you’ll read the whole thing and would like to join me in a challenge at the end.

To start off I’d like to quote President Monson: “We do not live alone—in our city, our nation, or our world. There is no dividing line between our prosperity and our neighbor’s wretchedness. “Love thy neighbor” is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection. This truth inspires the familiar charge “Go forth to serve.” Try as some of us may, we cannot escape the influence our lives have upon the lives of others. Ours is the opportunity to build, to lift, to inspire, and indeed to lead.”

Personally, I think this will be one of President Monson’s themes. Since he’s become prophet, I’ve listened to quite a few of his talks and they all carry the theme of the power of one individual to serve and do his part. Think about the power of one for a minute. One person can make such a difference. I’m sure that you can, right off the top of your head, think of many people who have caused a defining moment for you, lifted your spirits, offered charitable service, or have had a tremendous influence on you for good. And in most cases what they did was such a small thing. Let me give you a few examples from our lives.

Almost two years ago at a scout camp, a man in our ward, Brother McKenna, asked Cache in a casual conversation if he had ever considered earning all of the merit badges. At the time, Cache had 37 merit badges, which is more than most boys ever earn (21 is required for the Eagle) so he could have easily been finished. Whether he was serious or not, I do not know, but he planted a seed. That small conversation changed our lives and our posterity’s lives forever. Because of it, our family has experienced and learned things we wouldn’t have otherwise. Cache’s children and grandchildren will be forever influenced because of his experiences and growth through earning merit badges. The power of this man’s comment is amazing.

One more quick example. . . .I had been teaching for just under a month and was feeling severely overloaded. I was also starting to struggle with my confidence, especially about whether I should follow the curriculum exactly or focus more on meeting the kids’ learning needs. One day after school another teacher walked into my room and took interest in a few things I had on my wall. She was the first teacher to ever visit my room and take interest in me. Her compliments of a few of my methods gave me confidence that I sorely needed at the time. It also started a series of discussions about the current programs we were using and how to change them to meet the students’ needs. She became all the difference in me developing from a mediocre teacher into a good one. But more than that, we became quick friends. Her influence on me still is so powerful. (Thanks, Amy!)

So who has made a difference in your life? I know you have thought of a few people. Is it a teacher, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, a relative? Have you ever thanked that person for being in the right place at the right time doing the right thing that made such a difference in your life? Do you know how much power YOU have to make a difference in their life by expressing your gratitude? Keep those thoughts in mind for a minute. . . .

Now let me turn this around a little. Can you think of someone who could use encouragement? Can you think of someone who is lonely? Can you think of someone who could use a friend? Do you know the power YOU have to make a difference by sending them a note of encouragement or love?

In this day of mass communication and email, there isn’t much like receiving a nice, hand written note via snail mail. Think of how a handwritten note stands out as a real treasure amongst the mountainish pile of junk mail we all receive daily—especially a handwritten note of appreciation for you. So I’m challenging YOU to make a difference. And I’m going to help. I have made 50 cards (as usual, click to enlarge). I’m going to send cards and stamped envelopes to the first 50 people who sign up for them. (for my international readers, you are more than welcome to order cards, I just won’t be able to provide proper postage.) Think about the difference this is going to make! I hope YOU will want to participate.

I need to say here, just as a side note, that as I have been planning this post and these cards, there have been times I have felt such strong fear of doing this. . .fear of what others would think of me, fear that no one would want to participate, fear that this is just a plain-‘ole-stupid idea, fear that it will draw too much attention to myself when I don’t want it etc. You name it, I’ve worried about it. But if there is something I’ve learned about fear. . .that when it is most intense, it is because Satan is trying very hard to stop you from doing something that God wants you to do. And so, I’m going forward regardless of my fears. I hope that you too will rise above any fear and send a card. I promise it will make a difference to someone.

I realize that 50 is a very large number especially considering the size of my reader-audience, but I have faith that you will rise to the occasion. . . . but to help my faith along, there are a few external things I’m throwing in :). First, I’m not going to make another post until all 50 cards are gone. . .mostly because I want this entry to stay at the top until they’ve all got a destination. I will make comments to this post as necessary so if you want to keep tabs on this project you’ll have to check there. Second, when you order cards, your name will go in a drawing for a scrapbook page—me scrapbooking your pictures for you. If you sign up for more than one card, your name goes into the drawing for the number of cards you order. I will give away 3 layouts. If you win a layout, you can either choose a regular paper layout or one for the wall (either 8 ½” x 11” or 12” x 12”). (See photo for sample wall layouts.) I also completely understand that you wouldn’t want this perk, and if that be the case, just mention it when ordering your card and you will be passed by. Also, I’m well aware that I’m not the world’s greatest scrapbooker, so I can’t guarantee that you’ll love my work, but I can assure you that it will be better than a poke in the eye :).

So if you would like to participate with me in making a difference in the world, leave me a comment telling me how many cards you want and what you want the card to say on the front (thank you, thinking of you, the power of one, just a note etc.) then send me your snail mail address to my fake email address: chart@utwire.net. Or if you know my real email address you can send it there. One final note for those of you who have blog-comment-phobia. . .you can email me your order and I will post a comment so others can keep track of how many cards have gone.

And to quote President Monson again: “The New Testament teaches that it is impossible to take a right attitude toward Christ without taking an unselfish attitude toward men. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” We may think as we please, but there is no question . . . . there is no road to the heart of God that does not lead through the heart of man.”

Take this opportunity to be the power of one and make a difference to someone.

Thanks so much for reading to the very end.