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One is Still a Powerful Number

Written by: George Ludwig

Article Overview: A hearfelt, real-life story about a man who recognized the power of one.

One is Still a Powerful Number

Don't we often downplay what can be accomplished by just one person? We lose sight of the fact that just one person, with unfailing enthusiasm and consistent industriousness, can achieve results that are truly staggering-a virtual miracle.

As a young man, Elzea Bufier owned a small farm in France where he lived with his wife and only son. He was very content living a simple, peaceful life. Unfortunately tragedy struck, and he lost both his wife and son to sudden illnesses.

Unable to live on his farm without them, he began searching for a new place of solitude. With only his dog and 20 sheep, he roamed the countryside for almost a month. Finally he came upon a spot as desolate as any in France. He found an ancient ruin and decided to make it his new home. The nearest village was over two days' walk, but he decided it was at that spot that he would do his shepherding, so he could live a very quiet, peaceful life.

Even though Elzea was very hurt by his loss, he was still a good man with a giving heart. He decided that somehow he wanted to make a difference in the world in his own quiet way. He had noticed that the land was very barren, without trees. He decided he would remedy that problem by planting a few trees.

As he shepherded by day, he collected acorns from the few sparse oaks that dotted the high country near his new home. Each night after eating his soup, he selected the very best 100 acorns and put them in a pail of water. The next day, when his sheep took their afternoon nap, he would plant the 100 acorns while his dog kept a watchful eye on the sheep.

Every day he planted 100 trees, and by 1913, after just three years of planting, he had planted 100,000 trees. From those 100,000 trees, only 20,000 sprouted. And, from the 20,000 trees that sprouted, only 10,000 survived and grew tall. Yet, even with only a small percentage of his efforts paying off, 10,000 new trees appeared where there had been none before.

Elzea Bufier continued his quiet planting until the day he passed on. For 37 years he had planted at least 100 trees each day. As all the trees grew, nature amplified his miracle. The wind lifted and deposited more seeds which, in turn, drew more moisture and nourished the soil. Where there had once been a desolate, barren countryside, now stood a magnificent forest with a flowing stream and teeming with new life. Eventually, the French Forestry Bureau set aside most of the land as a protected national forest shortly after Bufier peacefully died in 1947.

Elzea Bufier gave the world a great gift. His special service was quiet and unpretentious. He wanted no credit. But his unrelenting enthusiasm and tireless industriousness created a virtual miracle. His story demonstrates the immense impact a single individual can have in the world. He shows us that believing we won't make a difference on our own is just an excuse-one is still a powerful number!

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Article Tags: acorns, afternoon nap, ancient ruin, countryside, good man, heart, illnesses, industriousness, peaceful life, sheep, solitude, tragedy, trees, unfailing enthusiasm, virtual miracle, watchful eye, young man
Referred by: http://www.JustChangeIt.com



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