Only One Grain Of Sand

By John W. Vander Velden

So I ask the question. If someone gathers a single grain of sand from the beach would it matter? Would taking a single particle of sand change the beach’s value? The simple answer would be that a single grain is insignificant. But I contend that though billions upon billions of grains make up the beach the removal of even one makes the beach less, particularly to the Master of the Beach.

You see the Master of the Beach knows each grain of sand — recognizes that every grain is unique. The Master of the Beach knows when each grain came to be, where it was formed, and how it has at last arrived to the particular beach which is its home. The Master of the Beach knows that each grain has a shape it shares with none other, slight variances of chemical composition, and shades of color. The Master of the Beach has named each grain — perhaps a name different than the name the grain of sand might call itself, because no person knows the grain of sand better…especially the grain itself. The Master of the Beach knows all these things and sees a value invisible to others, how each grain supports others, how each grain matters.

There are those times when we wonder — wonder how we fit into things. We wonder about our worth and consider the world and all the people that fill it. We think of ourselves as but a grain of sand on the beach. How easily we feel insignificant. Each day we find ourselves surrounded by others. Each day we measure ourselves and find ourselves lacking. We recognize those deemed powerful and important and know that list does not include us. We wonder if any notice us. If, when our time on earth is finished, we have made even the smallest of marks.

But the Master of the Universe knows us. Knows who we are — what we are — where we came from — and the journey that we have traveled. The Master of the Universe has given each of us a name. It is the name by which he knows us. It might not be the name we call ourselves, but is our true name. Our true purpose has always been part of His plan — a plan we neither know nor understand. For each of us is unique, a one of a kind individual like no other, filling a space that only we can fill. And the Master of the Universe knows that the world would be less — much less — without any one of us.