The power of 1

Much has been written about the power of one. One person can literally change the world. Most of us look at such individuals as exceptional people, those blessed with a great talent or skill. We tell ourselves, "Certainly, this doesn't apply to people like me."

We're full of excuses like I'm too young or too old or too busy. Perhaps we hesitate because our perspective is simply too large. What if we didn't set out to change the world, just the world around us?

Recently, I was moved by reports from two individuals, one who could be classified too young, the other too old.

On Feb. 13, the day before Valentine's Day, John Pisciotta, was shopping at his local Target. He was shocked to discover a large display of "Fifty Shades of Grey" products on an end-cap in the pharmacy, right next to some children's items. This included "No Peeking" blindfolds, a "Massage Me" candle, bath and massage oils, lubricant and even a set of "his and hers" vibrating (not for your finger) "love rings."

By now, most everyone has heard of "Fifty Shades of Grey," the racy, sadomasochistic book trilogy and movie, which is setting box-office records.

Dr. Pisciotta, a retired college professor who is 70 years old, is way past the age of being shocked by this kind of merchandise, but he was shocked to see it in a family store and appalled to see it in a place accessible to children. He asked to speak with the manager and expressed his concern and displeasure that Target would feature this merchandise. It wasn't long before a second manager arrived to defend the company's decision.

At the end of this conversation, Pisciotta handed the manager his card from Pro-Life Waco, an organization for which he has volunteered many years and now serves as president. The card included the group's Web address. The Pro-Life Waco site features the group's activities, which include local demonstrations at businesses supporting abortion and anything-goes sex education. Recently, the group held demonstrations at a local bank, car dealership and doughnut shop that sponsored Planned Parenthood's pornographic sex indoctrination program for teens and pre-teens, "Nobody's Fool."

These demonstrations effectively ended those sponsorships.

Pisciotta, undaunted by the reception he had received at Target, decided to call the store the following Monday to register another complait. Much to his surprise, the person who answered the phone told him that the display had been dismantled and returned because of a complaint from an elderly gentleman.

This was not just any elderly gentleman. This is a man who saw a need and filled it. This is the power of one.

John was comfortable in his role as a economics professor at Baylor University when his heart was broken over abortion. He sat on the fence for some time, not wanting to make waves. In 1994, he attended a rally led by Flip Benam to call attention to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, setting up shop in his hometown.

Two years later, Barbara Myers, Pro-Life Waco's founder, wanted to send out a newsletter but couldn't afford the stamps. John bought them for her. It's taken 19 years, but Planned Parenthood's abortion facility in Waco finally closed it's doors. That's the power of one plus one.

Be part of the movement to make abortion clinics an endangered species – "Abortion Free: Your Manual for Building a Pro-Life America One Community at a Time"

Unbeknown to Target, John had planned a demonstration at the store for the following Monday. Instead, he posted an announcement on the Facebook page Hometown Pro-Life Action, a network of over 3,000, and others began making complaints. As a result, Target stores in Temple and Round Rock (northern Austin) also pulled their displays. Stores in Houston and Georgetown have moved their displays from an end-cap to a less visible location. That's the power of one, plus one, plus one more.

On the other end of the age spectrum is 12-year-old C.J. Pearson. He's the student council president at Columbia Middle School and the founder of Young Georgians in Government, an organization fighting for conservatives principles and engaging young people in the political process. Pearson is six years away from voting age, but he's already worked on a couple of political campaigns and has written legislation making its way through the Georgia Legislature. His first YouTube video has over 2,000 hits, but his latest calling out Barack Obama has gone viral and has been viewed some 700,000 times.

[Watch C.J.'s viral video:]

Pearson set out the educate young people in his state, but he's now inspiring young and old throughout in the entire country.

What's holding you back?

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