The Power of One

We’ve had our share of “I didn’t quite expect that” moments over the years as we’ve visited the cinema and the theater without fully vetting the chosen film or play. Ask me someday about taking couples from our church to see a murder mystery theater performance. Not good. Yet sometimes we can be pleasantly surprised, as we were in our viewing of the first “Rocky” film in our seminary days. It’s been on cable so much now that it’s lost some of its power, but I remember walking home that night, amazed at what a great film it was.

At my suggestion, Larry and I (minus kids) went to see “The Incredibles” a few years ago. Not quite the same impact as Rocky, I’m afraid. As the film began, its rather motley assortment of superheroes fell out of favor with the public and they had to go into hiding and live like normal people. I knew we were in trouble.

I was reminded of The Incredibles on Thursday as the United Way of Ashland County kicked-off this year’s fund-raising campaign. The first hint: the rather creative assortment of caped crusaders who paraded through Upper Convo on the Ashland University campus (great job as always, AU catering staff). Throughout the morning, the presence of these superheroes was corny at best as capes flew through the air and masks because the day’s fashion statement. I must pause for a shout-out to the zaniest superhero in Jim Hess. In the years he and Margaret Ann led the United Way Pacesetters in their escapades, we came to expect zany from him, so I was glad for his cameo appearance in Thursday’s program.

Archie the cookie mascot, the AU cheerleaders, and the wannabe superheroes joined with those who didn’t get the costume memo to proclaim The Power of One, a power often ascribed to Superman, Spiderman, and even Mr. “I work alone” Incredible, who singlehandedly save the world.

Like the lone superheroes, the power of one person is United Way’s message to the Ashland community. There is power in one cardboard box of coins, one payroll deduction, one fund-raising activity, one cook-out, one story. There is also power in the presence of one caring person in our lives, whether it’s a parent, a teacher, a mentor, a co-worker, or a friend. I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard someone say, “If it wasn’t for ________, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

But my fuller understanding of the Power of One is in the lesson learned by Bob Parr, the normal name chosen by Mr. Incredible when forced to pack away his superhero suit. Sometimes, as Mr. Incredible discovered, the power of one isn’t enough. Instead, he needed the force-field ability of his daughter Violet, the super speed of his son Dash, and the stretchable body of his wife Helen, aka Elastigirl. Together, with all their superpowers combined, they were able to save the city from destruction.

I’ve worked in human services for nearly four decades, and I sure do wish we could have success as easily as the Incredibles did. I often long to hear the Mighty Mouse arpeggio of Saturday morning cartoons; “Here I come to save the day.” But that’s not how life works. Children are scarred by trauma and early deficits, parents are overwhelmed in their attempt to function day-to-day with inadequate resources, and our friends and neighbors are devastated by unexpected diagnoses and tragic loss. Mighty Mouse is a myth. Wonder Woman can’t do it all. As United Way’s Ev DeVaul reminded us, there is no magic “get out of difficulty” card to distribute at will.

But one by one, lives can change through the Power of One: One person, one family, one block, one neighborhood, one congregation, one school, one community, one United Way. As Ev encouraged us, we can celebrate the good stuff, we can raise awareness of the needs of our neighbors, and we can joyfully raise funds for distribution through United Way. Even if our superhero cape feels tattered and torn, we still have the power to change our world. It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane – it’s our community, living united.