My Inch

Of the estimated 108.2 billion people ever born in the history of the world. I am one. If a rope were taken to the moon approximately 7.21 times, my life would occupy approximately 1 inch. I am one. My impact is mostly limited to the few other inches in close proximity to me on the rope, those within my closest circles.

As an owner of an estimated 3.5 million German Shepherd dogs in US, I am one.

An estimated 2 million horse owners are in the US, I am one.

An estimated 16 million active quilters are in the US, I am one.

As a member of a family affected by the 203 Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty 1981, I am one.

Of the people who can cross their toes, I am one.

Of the mother’s who have 3 children in this world, I am one.

Of the grandmother’s who have only one grandchild, I am one.

Of the people who have always lived within a 10 mile radius of where they were born, I am one.

Of the thousands of people who have ran and completed a half marathon, I am one.

As someone whose marriage was restored by God’s grace, after I filed for divorce, I am in one.

Of the more than 15 million people self employed in the US, I am one.

Of Mac’s approximate 60 million users, I am one.

Of the many who have traveled to Ghana, West Africa on mission trips, I am one.

Of the one’s who left part of their heart in Ghana, West Africa, I am one.

As a child who lost all their belongings in a house fire at the age of 12, I am one.

As a granddaughter who had the privilege of being at their grandmother’s bedside when she died, I am one.

As someone who was a late bloomer graduating college at the age of 34, I am one.

Of the American coffee drinkers consuming 400 million cups of coffee per day, I am one.

As a woman who can successfully, effectively, and efficiently back a trailer, I am one.

As someone who has a phobia of praying mantis and walking stick bugs, I am one.

As someone who kept a horse from her father for 32 years, and buried it herself, I am one.

My 1 inch on the rope is seemingly insignificant. My eccentricities are mine, and mine alone. My journey, while seeming to be important in my eyes, can be insignificant in the volume of lives to have walked on this big blue ball called Earth. My days are limited. My days are numbered. My days will someday be gone. The short little thing I call a life span is all I have to offer. During my lifespan choices have been made, and will be made. It’s the choices I make which determine the mark I leave on my inch of the rope. Will I burn my inch with wasted efforts, or will I build and create something upon it which will make my inch strong? Where do I begin? How do I start? What do I do? Why does it matter?

Looking in the rear view mirror I see some regret. Missed opportunities weigh heavy on my mind. As only One occupying a small space on an seemingly unending rope of One’s, my inch is unique to what I make of it.

My inch is still being woven. To create a stronger inch, as I toil about day after day, it’s the lifting my eyes, and it's being attentive with my ears, and it’s opening my heart, and it's keeping a soft focus. These things help bring into focus opportunities that enable me to make my inch of time stronger.  

Of the estimated 108.2 billion people ever born in the history of the world. I am one.



Earth and its moon, seen from Mars. The HiRISE camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired 2 images on November 20, 2016, which were combined, with brightness adjusted separately to show details on both bodies. Image via NASA/ JPL-Caltech/ Univ. of Arizona.