One in 7.5 Billion

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset and saw a young girl in the distance. The girl kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water. Over and over she kept casting things into the ocean. As he approached, he was able to see that she was picking up starfish that had washed up on the beach. One at a time, she threw them back into the water. The man asked what she was doing. She replied, I’m throwing these starfish back into the ocean, or they will die.” The man laughed, “There are thousands on this beach, and many other beaches like this. You can’t possibly make a difference. You can’t possibly save them all.” She smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish and replied as she threw it back into the surf, “I made a difference to that one.”

We have a big family. I have four kids, a relatively higher than average size family. But that is nothing compared to the 7.5 billion people in our human family across the world. With such a huge number of kin, is it any surprise that we sometimes feel insignificant? How can we possibly make a difference in such a huge ocean of humanity? With coronavirus, we may feel even more distant and helpless. Is there anything that we can do that can possibly matter?

It turns out that we can indeed make a difference. We don’t need to shift continents or singularly help millions of people. By helping just one other person, we make a difference. It can be as simple as a kind word. Help someone carry their burden, show some compassion, bring some light. One on one, a donation of time, care, resources or attention can change a person’s life. If we all make that effort, it becomes even greater. Collectively we are a formidable force of 7.5 billion points of light that can illuminate and change the world.

Look for an opportunity to help someone this week. Be encouraged. You can make a difference, one person at a time.