One Is Enough

We met on Mt. Nebo one afternoon.  I was at the picnic area for my usual prayer/study time whe she walked by.  We were the only two people in the area.  She stopped to visit.  I didn't get her name.  I wish I had.  I even wish I had gotten her address.  It would be nice to touch base with her again.  She did mention her home in Texas. 

We visited for a good bit.  I discovered that she is a retired high school art teacher...divorced for about 24 years.

She told me she was camping on Mt. Nebo and I asked if she camped alone.  She said, "One is enough."  This retired teacher didn't let 'alone' hinder her from going and doing...she carried on with life as a whole, healthy person. 

Her answer made quite an impact on me.  One is enough.  The meaning is this:  One is enough - one can still travel, go camping and carry on with life.  Two or more is not a requirement for living.  Toward the end of our visit she invited me to walk over to the camp site to see her small travel trailer.  It was a 1974 model, just like the picture included in this blog.  She opened the door and we stepped inside. Her tiny space was stocked and complete with everything she needed for camping.  Someone had even installed an a/c unit in the back window.  She had camped at just about every park in the state, I think.  One is enough to hook up her little trailer to her Ford 4-cylinder car and...away she goes to explore the world.

I've met people in the past who obviously never understood that one is enough and they spent much time and effort looking for friends in all the wrong places.  One is always enough if you find satisfaction in the things of God.  You are complete in Christ.  A healthy person will once again function normally after a loss - after time - and after a healing process.   Even though the void is huge, Jesus Christ gives you strength and courage to live. 

Never underestimate the power of just one person.  Einstein was one man... Hitler was one man, too. One person can choose good, creativity, or destruction.  One is enough.   One person can bring life to a dying church by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  One can pray down revival. 

I found the following tidbit from an old CBS news article from August of last year.

When one person influences a few others, there are two major effects:

1.  A ripple effect that, over time, can actually impact thousands over generations.
2.  A broadening effect since one person influences many, like multiplying tree branches.

Quotes from the classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life,  help us to understand the importance of one person:

Clarence:  "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"
Clarence: You've been given a great gift, George: A chance to see what the world would be like without you.

Clarence: You see George, you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?
George Bailey:  I wanna live again! 

Your life has touched many other lives.  If you touched them but briefly  - that moment in time made a difference to them.

One is enough.  Esther 4:14...and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther was just one.  Paul was just one.  David was just one.  Moses was just one.  Elijah was just one....   Jesus was One.  One is enough.

Erma Bombeck said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Now, go.  Live.  You have a lot to do.
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