A Tiny Droplet

Danny Ong

18 March 2003

Can one person make a difference?

Today, a client called me. Their internet account has been suspended due to overdue payment. I suggested they pay RM150.00 since that amount lasted them a year.

Later, another staff called to say that they are paying RM500.00. I told her that's too much. Subsequent to this, several more calls came in and interrupted my work. In the end, they agreed to follow my advice.

It would have been easier and more profitable for me to just accept the RM500.00. Each transaction I do costs me some expenses. If I were to accept the RM500.00, it would have given me more profits and save me almost 3 times the expenses I would have to incur now. In the meantime, there is also no guarantee that the client will come back to me for future transactions. I only stand to lose by being honest.

Did my action bring good to the world? Probably not. What can such a small gesture do? This is just a tiny droplet falling onto the desert. The moisture is quickly absorbed and nothing is left of it.

But, my dear friends, let us imagine; what if there are several tiny droplets of water falling onto the desert? What if those tiny droplets become a constant drizzle and the drizzle turns into a downpour. A stream would run through the desert. Then, a pond will form. Then, vegetation will grow. Then, grass, plants and trees. Insects will thrive. And animals will roam free.

The desert will become an oasis. Just a tiny droplet cannot do anything. But, a downpour can change the desert. Let each of us contribute just one tiny droplet of water to help create that oasis.