One

One of my favorite song writers, Brandon Heath, has a song called “The One,” and it’s cycled through my iPod a lot lately. The gist of the song is that sometimes, it only takes one person to make a difference and what if that one person is you or me? About a week ago, the same sentiment was the premise of a sermon at my church. I really started to think about being only one person and how vast this world is. I mean, we live in a world with nearly 7 billion people.

Seven. Billion.

Seriously, I’m only one person. It’s overwhelming to consider you or I could make such a tremendous difference with that many people in the world.

I try my best to make a difference in other people’s lives. I try to help people in my daily life, even with small things. I try to use this website and blog to be an encourager and a support to others. I work closely with two advocacy and outreach groups in my community and I work with @mod4acure on outreach missions across Alabama. But is it enough? Is that truly enough to leave a legacy or to change the world? I’m so small when the entire world is considered. But then I started thinking, there have been so many “just ones” in history — some from long ago, and some in present time.

Frederick Banting was one man. He latched on to research completed before him and fought for a lab to continue testing the use of insulin. Along with several other scientists, he was able to use isolated insulin to stabilize a person’s blood sugar level — ultimately changing a diabetes diagnosis from terminal to chronic — saving the lives of millions.

Mother Theresa was one person, one woman. She grew up to be an advocate for those suffering from tremendous ailments. She helped found numerous charities and helped shine a light on the AIDS/HIV epidemic throughout the 90s. She was only one woman following what she believed to be her calling.

Lee Ducat was one person with one diabetic child. She, and later Carol Lurie — another mom of a diabetic, founded what is today’s JDRF. Since its inception in 1970, JDRF has funded more than $1.6 billion in diabetes research. That research has made significant and life-changing strides in diabetes management and care which has helped me both directly and indirectly. One mom with a passion to help her child.

Martin Luther King Jr. was one man, but he had a dream. He could see with his owns eyes injustice and inequality in the world, and he set out to change it. He organized countless peaceful demonstrations, marches and protests for civil rights. He was a pastor, who followed his calling to change the country. He did, but it cost him his life. One person, still making an impact in today’s world.

Cherise Shockley is one woman. She’s not famous by the world’s standards, but she’s made a huge impact on the world. She had an idea for a social media chat as a way to share experiences, support and encouragement, all with a larger goal of diabetes awareness and education — the ultimate point of Diabetes Social Media Advocacy, or DSMA. She was one person with one idea — which now reaches hundreds, if not thousands, of people affected by diabetes across the globe. One woman, with one idea, continues to help me each week to stay on course with my diabetes management.

Ghandi was one. Abraham Lincoln was one. Bill Gates was one. Rosa Parks was one. Billy Graham was one. Phil Southerland was one. Steve Jobs was one.

So if it really does only take one, what’s stopping us from changing the world? We don’t have to invent the next technological anomaly or single-handedly save 5 million people from starvation. But we can make a difference — one person at a time. And if it only takes one person to impact the world, imagine what we can do together?

“When I think of what could be if we let our hearts believe, that it takes just one, just one, to turn this all around. If we’re living history, how will they think of you and me? If it takes just one, just one… what if, what if, what if I’m the one?”