One

Back in the 70s, Three Dog Night sang that "one is the loneliest number."  It doesn't have to be though.  One can multiply very quickly.  One can make a huge difference.

I have heard people say "what can I do"?  Plenty.  If you think that your single vote doesn't matter, you are mistaken.  If you think that your volunteer shift at the library isn't that important think about what doesn't get done when you aren't there.  We all have special skills, and we all can make a difference.  That's what this blog is all about.  

When we see bad things happening, we can speak up and say that we want good.  We want positivity.  Change for the batter begins with each of us.  We really can make a difference.

One person is seldom really alone. It might begin that way, but quickly you might be joined by others who also want to make a difference. Changing the world for the better is the daily regular occupation for people who dare to get involved. You can be that person.

 

The Boy and the Starfish

All good stories begin with "Once upon a time," right? Well here's one, that was adapted from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977). You might find it reminding you of a similar story I recently told about a dog, and the message is really the same, so read on.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a little boy, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" said the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the boy replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

Indeed. It made a difference for every single starfish the boy threw into the water. The message this morning is clear, and it's one I have I shared over and over. WE can make a difference. WE can be superheroes. WE can do some pretty incredible things. If we throw our hand up in surrender and don't even try to make this a better world, of course we won't be giving back, but each of us can and should give back in our own way. If it seems overwhelming and that our contributions won't make a bit of difference, remember the story of the boy and the starfish!

The Parable

This being Sunday, how about a parable? 

A man was taken on a tour of both heaven and hell. In hell he was shown a banquet hall filled with diners seated at a table that was covered with all kinds of delicious food. Each person’s back and left arm were tied to the chair so that bending at the waist was impossible, and the left arm could not move. The right arm was stiffened so that the elbow would not bend. The people at the table could gaze at the delicious spread and they could smell the aroma of the food, but they were starving.

In heaven, the picture was the same – backs and left arms shackled, right arms stiffened – but the diners were feasting and rejoicing, because each diner used his stiffened right arm to feed the person to his or her right. It was a picture of people working together, in other words – it was cooperation. How wonderful!

Of course, we don’t have to wait to get to heaven to have this kind of teamwork. It really is quite easy to do things for each other, right here on earth! Oh and before you ask what part of the Bible this parable comes from - it doesn’t. This isn’t a parable of Jesus, but one that we mortals came up with and which has been told and re-told. The point is a very good one though: cooperation - helping others - making a difference. It's a story that illustrates the very thing we talk about here every day.

If you like your parables to come from Scripture and have to have some backup from the Bible, let’s look at the words of Blessed Paul the Apostle, who in his letter to the Philippians wrote “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” I could not have said it any better!

New Year greeting

Happy New Year everybody and welcome to 2026.  The year is just hours old and already there has been tragedy.  Smoke and flames turned celebration into horror at a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight.  Over a hundred people are severely injured and there are numerous deaths.

There is probably more negative news, but I prefer to focus on the positive. Here is an example. Beginning today, large health insurers in California will be required to cap the insulin copay at $35 for a 30-day supply. Around 2 million Americans require insulin to live. This law only applies to California but is certainly good news.

Of course we can always contribute to the good news.  Help your neighbor.  Get involved.  Care about your community.  Be a hero.  All of us can work toward better tomorrows.  All of us can make a difference. As 2026 begins, let us resolve to be better people and to work for a better world.

Thanks for reading this these past eighteen year.  May 2026 be a great year for all of us!

preparing to write a new book

It's the seventh day of Christmas, but it's also the last day of the year. 2025 is coming to a close! A big thank you to all who read this regularly and I hope you find something here of value.

Now it's time to close this 2025 book though. I hope your life has had a lot of great moments during the year! Mine has certainly had more ups and downs than ever before and I am blessed to have such wonderful friends.  My sister is also such a wonderful blessing in my life!

 

Tomorrow, we open a brand-new book. It's pages are blank. We of course are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and it's first chapter is New Year's Day!  Let's make this new book a best-seller!

Happy New Year everyone!  Let's have an incredible 2026.

Habari Gani?

The second day of Christmas each year also happens to be the first day of Kwanzaa, so there is plenty of reason to keep on celebrating. (New Year's is next week, too). The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is "Habari Gani?" which, in Swahili, simply means "How are you?" or "What's the News?"

So, just what is the news on this unity day, the first day of Kwanzaa? Are we united? Can we strive for and maintain unity in the family, the community, and in our nation? Kwanzaa was established in part, as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their culture and heritage. The bumpy race-relations in this country, which seem to have gotten worse in recent years, cannot be a part of any kind of celebrating, but the coming together of people for the better good, should always be embraced. 

People have taken to the streets in many parts of the country and cried out "enough!" There needs to be true equality, which we get from unity. Perhaps we will truly have it one day.  Of course, that only happens when people care.  I would love to see Kwanzaa more widely celebrated and I'd like to learn more about it too.  

Let's all learn about each other, and care about each other.  What a wonderful way to celebrate!

Christmas greetings

Since 2008 I have been writing a Christmas message here, so I'm not going to repeat the many things I have said here in the past, but I do want to send warm wishes to you all and again thank you for reading this blog.

 

Today is the occasion when folks give out presents more than any other day in the entire year.  You have given me a wonderful present by reading my words here and occasionally even leaving comments.  Your participation urges me to be a better person and so I want to thank you for that as well.

 

It warms my heart to hear the positive stories about people giving back and making a difference.  How wonderful that our world has so many givers.  May we always want to give and to help others and may the spirit of this wonderful season last us through the entire year!