The Butterfly Effect: Do I make a difference?

I received a book this last week that has caused me to pause and to ponder.  The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews begins by asking these questions:  "How significant is my life? Do I make a difference?  When I move…when I act… when I do something… does the universe notice?  Do I really matter?"

The author goes on to say:

"In 1963 Edward Lorenz presented a hypothesis to the New York Academy of Science.  His theory, stated simply, was that a butterfly could flap its wings and set molecules of air in motion, which would move other molecules of air, in turn moving more molecules of air-eventually capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet.  Lorenz and his ideas were literally laughed out of the conference.  What he had proposed was ridiculous. The 'butterfly effect' became a staple of science fiction.

So imagine the scientific community's shock and surprise when, more than thirty years after the possibility was introduced, physics professors working from colleges and universities worldwide came to the conclusion that the butterfly effect was authentic, accurate, and viable. 

Soon after, it was accorded the status of a 'law.'  Now known as The Law of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Condition, this principle has proven to be a force encompassing more than mere butterfly wings. Science has shown the butterfly effect to engage with the first movement of any form of matter-including people.

As an example, Mr Andrews offers the concept that one person, a single man who lived more than a century ago made one move that dramatically affects how we live today.  He tells the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor from Maine, who led the Union Army to defeat the Confederate troops at Gettysburg.  Because he made a momentous decision, it turned the tide of the Civil War.

Most people assume that had the Confederate Army won the war, today we would exist as two countries, the Union and the Confederacy.  "Historians however, insist that if the South had won the war, we would now live on a territorially-fragmented continent much like Europe--North America would be divided into nine to thirteen countries.

Which means: When Hitler swept across Europe in the 1940's had Chamberlain not charged on that afternoon so long ago, there would not have existed a United States of America to stand in the breach.  When Hirohito systematically invaded the Islands of the South Pacific, there would not have been a country Big enough, Strong enough, Wealthy enough, and Populous enough to fight and win two wars on two fronts at the same time.  The United States of America exists as it does today because of a single man:  One thirty-four year old school teacher and one move he made more than a century ago."

After reading this book, I contemplated my own life.  I asked myself those questions found at the beginning of the book.  I know I matter to my Father in Heaven.  I am His daughter.  I matter to my earthly parents and family.  I matter to Kay, my eternal companion.  I matter to my children and grandchildren.  I matter to my friends.  Because I know I matter to people I love, I want to live my life in a manner that the things I do will have a positive effect on those people and in fact, on all with whom I come in contact.  The things I do and say can be positive or negative.  It does matter what I do and say.

As I walked on Wednesday, I read (listened to) a BYU Devotional talk by F. Melvin Hammond titled "One Man Can Make a Difference."  Brother Hammond gives several examples of people who have made a difference in the lives of those around them and in the world.  I recommend reading this talk.  It is worth the time.

This has been a busy week.  On Monday, Mikala Anderson left for home in Utah but before she left we went for bagels in Queens and pizza in Brooklyn.

Tuesday was a temple trip so I was able to spend time with the companions of those attending the temple.  I also went to Manhattan to an appointment.

Sisters Valverde, Steninger, Allen, Thomas, Albanese, Dawson

Sister Albanese

Sign board in front of a bagel shop in Manhattan

Planters full of beauty on the streets of NYC

Tuesday evening I was invited along with the sisters to go to Ruma Kapoor's home for dinner and a lesson.  Ruma is a fantastic cook.  I have never eaten better Indian cuisine anywhere!  Ruma's mother, Sapna Kapoor, is visiting from Jaipur.  She came last summer and we have been friends and communicating on Facebook ever since so it was good to connect with her again in real life.

Train to Ruma's Sisters Panoussi and Persinger

Atul, Sapna, Roy, Sisters Persinger and Panoussi, Ruma

Wednesday morning as I was walking, I received a text from Katie including a picture of the snow.  Wednesday and Thursday it was 90-93 here.  I've had my air conditioning blasting in the "ice castle."

Utah & New York

I saw these tiny, delicate flowers along the side walk peeking out from under the ivy.

I like to walk to and through Juniper Park. On Wednesday I was in a hurry so I walked along
the side of the park instead of going in to the park. I noticed this cemetery which I hadn't noticed before.
If you would like to read about it, it is interesting.

http://www.junipercivic.com/HistoryArticle.asp?nid=17#.WSEZr4EpCEc

As I passed this big oak on my walk,  I was admiring its gnarly roots when I noticed the locust tree
seeding that had taken root in a crevice.   Made me think of how we can nurture one another.
Doesn't matter our size or if we are different species or color or ...

Friday it was 95 degrees on my car thermometer.  Someone told me it reached 97 that day.  It has been beastly HOT!!  Humidity is not a friend when the temp is high and it is always pretty humid.  I went to Jamaica to take some elders to lunch.  There was no air conditioning in the restaurant. Whew!  What a day.

Strange to ride in an empty train car. If you look closely there is a person on the far end of the car.
For some reason the train was not loaded as usual leaving Jamaica. By 3 stops later it was mostly full.

Lunch with Elders Bergeson and Hall.

Wall mural in the restaurant.

HOT!!!  On my way back to the ice castle after shopping

I did a little grocery shopping to be ready for the weekend but I really only wanted to stay inside the ice castle.

Friday evening I taught a first aid lesson to the activity girls in our ward.  It was fun. We talked about basic things to do for several instances when first aid would be required: What to do for a bloody nose, a scraped knee/elbow, tick bite, poison ivy, broken bone, etc.  We practiced the proper way to apply a bandaid/bandage, how to assess for breathing, how to make a proper 9-1-1 call and more.  We then assembled basic first aid kits.  I think they enjoyed it and learned from it.

One of the mothers at church today told me that they went out on the island yesterday and her daughter told everyone not to worry.  She knew what to do if they got into poison ivy. I love it!

Saturday Sister and Elder Williams invited me to come on a walking tour of Forest Hills Gardens.  One of their friends from Flushing, Jay a retired school teacher, is a history buff and likes to give walking tours of the area.  He grew up in Queens and is most knowledgeable about the area.

Sister Williams, Elder Williams, Jay

It was interesting.  The temperature cooled off into the 60's and it misted but not quite rained for a few minutes.  I learned a lot about Forest Hills Gardens, a "British experiment in Queens."  It is a beautiful area with luxury English tudor style homes and apartment buildings.  It is a private community. 

Here is an article about Forest Hills Gardens if you would like to read more about it.

Station Square

Tower closeup on Forest Inn. It is an apartment complex now but still retains the name.

Tree lined streets

Churches

This sign in the realtor's window caught me. This is one of the lesser homes advertised.
We then walked by it for real.

Homes and apartment complexes

Sidewalk

Forest Hills Station for the Long Island Railroad. Notice Manhattan in the distant horizon.

Gorgeous lawns and flowers

For many years Forest Hills meant tennis; the West Side Tennis Club played host to the United States National Championship, later the Open, for about 60 years, until 1977.

Tennis club house

Wall mural under the train overpass built in 1909

Jay pointed out this McDonald's Town House.  He told us that before there were any McDonald's in NYC, the company was hesitant to open the fast food shops because there could be no drive through.  They experimented with walk in stores and called the Town Houses.  This McDonald's Town House is the last.

Here is an article about this very McDonald's that I found interesting:

Saturday evening I put together French toast strata, cooked bacon and sausage links, cut up fruit, and got everything ready for Sunday dinner.  It was Elder Cahan's birthday and he asked for breakfast for dinner.  So we celebrated birthdays for all of us even though it wasn't our birthdays.

All I had to do Sunday was bake the French toast strata, warm the meats, cook some eggs, and oven fry frozen hash browns.  It was a fun dinner and great company.

Elder Williams and I took turns as the photographer.

We only had one tick bite this week but we have had flare ups of the poison ivy cases we had last week.  The rash keeps spreading.  Finally had to send several to the doctor for help.  The spring cold is still playing havoc too.  The virus is a sticky one that just doesn't want to give up.

I received a form from the mission to fill out regarding my travel home.  That made the end of my mission seem more real.  I'm in that "I want to go home to my family and friends but I want to stay forever in the mission" mode.  All good things come to an end and it is getting close to the time for me to move on and to let someone else have the blessings of being the nurse here. 

Perhaps receiving that form and thinking about moving on to another chapter in my life has caused me to think so much about the effect I have on the world.  That seems so BIG to me.  The idea that I, one person, can change anything. 

I like the last lines of the book I mentioned earlier:

"Your life…And what you do with it today…Matters forever.."

I pray that I may be an influence for good and that I can help the people in my life and myself to draw closer to the Savior in all we do.

I love you my family and friends.