Childhood Lessons from a Pond
One of my favorite childhood memories was visiting my Great Uncle’s farm in Rocky Mount, NC, and learning to skim stones across his pond. Often, I’d get into trouble there too, since rock-skipping and fishing didn’t always mix well.
Many people hesitate to pursue ideas or take action because they believe one person can’t make a difference. I hear it often—“How can one person truly make an impact in our world today?”
But I believe one person absolutely can. And a significant one at that. My own prayer for life is rooted in this belief.
One Person, One Impact
Consider these examples:
- Thomas Edison created 10,000 light bulbs before he finally got one to work.
- WD-40 is short for water displacement – 40th attempt. It took the inventor 40 tries before he finally had a formula that worked.
- Milton Hershey dropped out of school in fourth grade to become a printer, but got fired as an apprentice. Later he went to school for business and started three different candy companies, every one of which failed. Yet he stuck with it and established Hershey Candy.
- Steve Jobs made the original Mac in his garage and tried to start up the company on his own. He was originally fired from Apple in 1988, but returned in 1996 and helped make Apple what it is today.
What if any of these individuals had given up? What if they had refused to take initiative with their ideas to change the world? Think for a minute how your life might be different. No WD-40, no Hershey Candy, no Apple products, and no lightbulbs. Life would be darker, stickier, less sweet, and certainly less connected.
The Ripple Effect
Imagine standing at the edge of a lake. You toss in a stone. The ripple it creates extends far beyond the point of impact. That’s the power of a single action.
Whatever your idea is, it creates both short-term and long-term change. This is the stone you helped me toss: the UZIMA water filter. It’s small, but like that childhood pebble, it’s created ripple after ripple in Kenya.
A Christmas Miracle in Lanet
Two years ago, I shared this vision with a classroom. Together, we provided Uzima water filters to 12,000 households in Lanet, Kenya. Today, everyone in that region has access to clean water.
And the ripple effect has been astounding:
- 89.9% reduction in waterborne diseases per household.
- 93.9% reduction among children under 5.
- 93.0% reduction in doctor and medicine costs.
The Financial Shift
- Before the filter: $242.24/year per household.
- After: $16.88/year.
Education Impact
- Days of school missed before: 56.2/year.
- After: 3.0/year.
Work Impact
- Days of work missed before: 74.32/year.
- After: 2.76/year.
That’s a $2.7 million annual savings in just one region. And that doesn’t even include the economic value of those regained workdays.
Skipping the Stone with Intention
Think back to that lake. You used force and intention to skim the stone across the water. Now imagine lightly dropping it—fewer ripples, less reach.
The ripple effect is stronger when we act with strength, purpose, and follow-through. Without action, there’s no change. If we want to see impact in the world, we have to start something.
Every great change starts with one person. One idea. One determined heart.
Let’s Keep Skipping Stones
Toss your pebble into the water. Help us to skim that stone. Allow its impact to cause ripple effects in the world in which we live. By using strength, determination and resources , those ripples will keep impacting your world long after we are gone.
