Little Drops of Water

I look around and sometimes get disheartened with the extent of poverty, homelessness, violence, drug abuse, war, terrorism, refugee issues and the like. I so want to help and I want to make a difference but it sometimes feels that I am just one person and I am so limited in what I can do.

A few weeks ago, I was riding in the car with a young college man from Ghana. He camps out at our house from time to time when his campus is closed for Spring Break or in the summer as it is too costly for him to fly back home. We were discussing the concept in business that even the smallest incremental changes can make a huge difference. He smiled and said, “little drops of water make the mighty ocean.” I smiled too. I had been struggling lately with the overwhelming issues of the world and how I felt so insignificant to make a difference. For every one person or family you help, there are hundreds more that need it. Then, I thought of Daniel’s comment: “little drops of water make the mighty ocean”. And I got it. I understood that things might seem overwhelming, but every little bit really does make a difference. I need to continue to focus on helping individuals and families. I need to try to provide unconditional love to others. I need to do the right thing. If I do, I will be making a small dent in the big problem. But if everyone does, then we make ‘the mighty ocean’.

In business, the difference from being average to reaching excellence wasn’t making huge changes. It usually was asking large groups of people to move the needle just a few points. As an example, we fed thousands of folks at Thanksgiving because each Monday morning for 12 weeks, hundreds and thousands of associates brought one food item into the office. ‘Can by can’ we gathered enough food to feed an incredible number of needy people across the United States each year.

The same approach worked growing our business, driving 'efficiencies' and improving our metrics.

So, I decided to look up on the internet where this great line came from and found a poem written by Julia Carney in 1845! Yes, 170 years ago, Julia Carney was feeling the same way I am today. It went deeper as well, warning us about maintaining ethics and values and the consequences of crossing the line. (Again, so appropriate!)

Her poem has served as a ‘shot in the arm’ for me. I am not giving up. I am not letting that evil voice say I am not making a difference. Instead, I am choosing to listen to the voice saying “plow ahead…it matters”.

Here is the poem in its entirety. I hope it is as meaningful to you as it has been to me.

Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And the beauteous land.

And the little moments,

Humble though they may be,

Make the mighty ages

Of eternity.

Little deeds of kindness,

Little words of love,

Make our earth and Eden,

Like the heaven above.

So, our little errors,

Lead the soul away,

From the paths of virtue

Into sin to stray.

Little seeds of mercy

Sown by youthful hands,

Grow to bless the nations

Far in heathen lands.

Glory then for ever

Be to God on high,

Beautiful and loving,

To eternity.

Thanks for reading this and have a great weekend.

With a goal to “help the next guy in line”, Glen Cavallo, a 30+ year healthcare executive has chosen to share the many lessons he has learned with others. Glen does this by serving as a coach/advisor to leaders at all levels of organizations, as a board member and as he presents inspirational speeches at regional, national, annual and awards meetings.