just one drop...

have you thought about how much effort does it take to change the world? how much time does it take for one phrase or line to travel round the globe? how long does it take to touch the hearts of 6 billion people?

it always starts with one person. every movement always begins with a visionary - someone who sees the vision and shares the passion. every project starts with a leader - someone who is clear about the goals of the projects and ensures smooth progress. every invention starts with a thinker - someone who is not satisfied with life and hopes to find a solution to some (maybe everyday) problems.

on the contrary, every argument also starts with one person, regardless if it was a misunderstanding or genuine conflict of views. every fight starts with one person too - whoever that throws the first punch/kick/poke/step/etc.

so for everything that happened, it started with one person. and from that one person, many people were impacted and touched by it. from one person, the "Feed the Hungry" program benefited millions around the world. from one person, the United Nations act as a mediator to prevent more wars from breaking out. from one person, we now have the light bulb (so we don't have to die of smoke poisoning from candles).

so as an individual, my question posed to you is: how much can you do for the world?

let's start small... just look at a close group of friends around you. is there something you want to influence them about? is there an issue you want to make a stand about? is there a dream you want to share with them about? is there a life-changing experience that you want to share with them so that it would impact their lives? all it takes is for you to tell a few people... and if it is something impactful enough to be heard, more and more people will get to hear about it. but it all started because you were willing to share with the people around you.

just like the picture i posted above. it's actually a drop of ink in a beaker of plain water. when the ink is dripped into the water, it will eventually change the water from being colourless (trying to remember my chem terms) to being coloured. so imagine if we are a drop of ink... and the friends around us are like plain water. we are to be a positive influnece on the friends around us. therefore like the drop of ink, we are to slowly diffuse into the colourless water and cause the plain water to transform its current state. (i know my use of words here is pretty conflicting to chem terms... but who cares?)

similarly, a negative influence has exactly the same changing power as the drop of ink. a negative friend can also slowly diffuse into the colourless water and stain the water and cause it to change for the worse.

so to what extent are we influencing our friends? and how much extent are we allowing our friends to influence us? let's be that positive drop of ink... to add a little sunshine to the people around us. to brighten up their day with a smile. to remind them that we were made for a purpose. to encourage them when they've got the blues. to love them enough to say we care.

i'm suddenly reminded of an old song that we used to sing in PL (and sometimes sunday school)...
it only takes a spark to get the fire going
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
that's how it is with God's love
once you've experienced it
you want to spread to everyone
you want [echo: yes you want] to pass [echo: to pass] it on
pass it on, pass it on...