My high school choir decided to create an alumni wall for former members. The first thing that popped in my mind when I heard about the alumni wall was “Hallmark movie”. It really does have all the trappings for a movie. I can just imagine the plot right now.
The Plot
Jane is a beautiful, strong, intelligent woman. She hasn’t thought about her high school choir years for a long time. She’s been busy working as a computer programmer, a volunteer at her local Boys and Girls Club and a poet who writes really long sonnets every weekend. Jane is home visiting her parents for Christmas when she hears about the choir alumni wall. She’s not going to do it, but a conversation with a department store Santa changes her mind. Santa tells her she will get a date for Christmas if she goes to her old high school and places her handprint on the wall.
Jane goes and places her hand in the purple paint. She has to wait 2 minutes with her hand on the wall until it dries. There’s a kind, handsome, engineer who is also waiting for his handprint to dry. You only need 2 minutes in a movie to cement a relationship. Let’s call this man Peter. Peter is a scientist who is creating a devise that will make clean water a reality for everyone in the world. There are greedy corporations and corrupt politicians who are trying to stop Peter from his work.
After several hours of deep conversation while eating organic, locally-sourced food they decide this clean water device needs to get out now. Jane builds Peter a website so he can publish the directions for how to make the clean water devise. The movie then shows people all around the world using the directions. The world is a better place.
The movie ends with Peter and Jane standing by a doorstep. He gives her a kiss goodnight. It’s a sweet kiss as the snow starts to fall. Jane gets her date for Christmas. The End.
The Reality
In case you are wondering, I went down to my high school and placed my handprint on the alumni choir wall. I did not meet a handsome engineer, save the world, get a date or a goodnight kiss out of it. There was also no snow. It was fun though to walk around campus and think about younger me.
The whole silly Hallmark movie idea did make me think about water.
According to the United Nations, nearly 1,000 children die due to preventable water and sanitation-related diarrhea diseases every single day (Source).
That’s horrible. It breaks my heart to hear that people are suffering. I try to do what I can to love my neighbor. I try to support organizations that help make the world better. I wish I could do more.
There’s so much need in this world. It’s easy for me to get discouraged when I hear about another problem that my fellow brothers and sisters here on planet Earth are experiencing. I think I could spend the next 50 years of my life helping others and still not be able to fix all the problems of this world. (Yes, you read that right. This 40-something year-old is planning to die in her youthful 90’s.)
I wrote a little poem to make me feel better. It helps me accept that my small efforts are enough. If we all helped one, the world would be better. I hope the poem makes you think. I really hope that the poem inspires you to serve.
The Poem (because there’s not enough poetry in the world)
I may not be able
to stop all wars
But I can bring peace
to one child’s heart.
I may not be able to
call back the storm
But I can warn the one
who live in the valley below.
I may not be able
to do it all.
But I can give my all
For One.
my 13 day challenge 