This weekend I sat on my new hammock reading from one of my favorite meditation books, “Why Buffalo Dance”, by Suan Chernak McElroy.  One of the stories is about her reaction when she finds a baby Magpie.  She questions her decision and what difference it with make in the world–this one human and this one bird.  In our media, celebrity drenched world we often overlook the power of one.  We crave grand events and recognition with the motto that more is better.  But many great things are done through the power of one. 

In the animal rescue world one stray rescued, one more animal spayed or neutered, one more anti-cruelty bill that passes, one more child educated through humane education or one hour at a shelter can make a huge difference.  One of the stories that inspire me is the story of a boy walking the beach.  Millions of starfish are stranded on the shore and dying.  A man walks by and says to the boy, “Why bother?  You’ll never save them all.  What difference do your efforts make when so many will die?”  The boy smiles, placed the starfish in his hand back in the ocean and says, “It makes a difference to this one”. 
Never underestimate the power of one.