More than 10 years ago I watched a movie called “The Power of One.” And then I found out it was based on a book and so I read the book. It’s a deeply powerful and often difficult to watch story about the difference one person can make in the world. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie, “Little beat big when little smart, first with the head, and then with the heart.”
Sometimes we might be tempted to say that we’re only one person. Or that it’s only one day. Or just once won’t make a difference. But I think back to all the “ones” that made such a difference in my life. The one class I took that inspired me. The one friend I had who challenged me. The one act of service that gave me hope. And at the same time, the one second too late on the brake that could’ve prevented an accident. The one step too far that resulted in an injury. The one time too many.
One person, one moment, one act, can make a difference. I think of One who gave all so that one by one we can be blessed. I love the scriptures in the Book of Mormon that talk about how Christ took the time with each person, “one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets that should come” (3 Nephi 11:15). And then later when he “took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them” (3 Nephi 17:21).
Sure I may just be one person. One collection of atoms in the whole universe. But I am known as one. And we should never underestimate the power of one moment, of one person.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
One was an important number to the ancient Israelites. The “Shema” (Deut. 6:4) was the first verse they learned as children and was the verse they uttered with their last breath.
There’s also the fact that every computer, from the watch calculator you had in elementary school to the most powerful super computer in the world, can be said to speak only in ones and zeros. That’s all you need to compute anything.