Mom Believes in Power of One; Plans to Walk, Pray

Do I ever believe in the power of one? If someone believes in his or her heart that something good and positive can be accomplished, that person has the magical power of one.
Rev. Patricia Anderson is such a person with a belief in the power of one.
On Saturday, Aug. 31 at 8 a.m., Anderson will, for the sixth year, join with whoever shows up at Middle Township High School to conduct the sixth annual C.U.R.T. Prayer Walk.
Curtis Davis was her son, killed as he tried to cross the Garden State Parkway near the overpass near the high school.
C.U.R.T. is not only Anderson’s son’s name; it stands for Children United to Resist Temptation. And oh, how those temptations abound at every turn and on every channel.
A cross on the east side of the walkway will be a stop along the prayer walk.
Last year, Anderson and this reporter were the only ones to take the journey. Unfazed, well-worn Bible in hand, she prayed at each school and in front of the administration building.
Why would she do that?
For starters, Anderson believes in the power of prayer as well as the power of one. She knows children who will soon start classes within the walls of those buildings need heavenly intervention, and certainly, the schools cannot and will not provide any.
A quiet woman, Anderson is a believer who does what she can to help children. She told me that if the time comes when she is the only one to conduct that prayer walk, and must walk the way alone, she would do it, because she honestly and truly believes schoolchildren are besieged with a multitude of evils, and her prayers are needed.
Last year, as we waited at 8 a.m. for the promised other walkers to appear, and none did, she told me it was discouraging, especially since she sent out fliers, and the notice was printed in this and other newspapers.
However, it is a Labor Day Weekend Saturday. Many people are other places doing busy things. Taking time to walk and prayer, and at 8 a.m., that almost crosses the line of expecting too much from townspeople who are interactive and interconnected.
At the time, Anderson is walking and praying for the district’s schoolchildren, some will be anxiously preparing for the 20th annual Whitesboro Reunion.
Oprah Winfrey is reportedly going to attend the annual gathering of present and former residents, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if 5,000 people showed up to see the famous lady and her Whitesboro friend, Stedman Graham, who was instrumental in forming the reunion two decades ago along with the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, Inc., of which he is a key member.
I was wondering, with such a positive force behind Anderson, and her trying to help the Middle Township schoolchildren and teachers as they embark on a new school year, would it be possible that Ms. Winfrey would want to join the humble walk?
If the famed Oprah would consent to such a purpose-driven odyssey at the start of the day, Rev. Anderson would probably see the largest crowd ever to walk between the high school and middle school to Elementary No. 1, the Administration Building and end at Elementary No. 2.
I can just imagine that tears might stream down the quiet lady of the Lord’s face as she saw a huge crowd ready to walk with her, stopping and asking for holy invocations on the children in the coming year.
Whether walkers are multi-millionaires or welfare moms and dads, the only thing that will be collected at the sixth C.U.R.T. Prayer Walk are prayers. Lack of money cannot be an excuse for absence. If health prevents walking, Anderson will understand, cars can be driven to stops along the way; prayers will extend through a windshield.
Amazing things can happen when people believe in the power of one. One mother with a firm belief that she can change a pupil’s life by prayer is powerful. Multiply that by two or 10 or 50 or 500, and imagine what might happen.
Anderson has the motivation to walk alone, but as long as this reporter has breath and ability to walk, there will be two.
How many more will there be Saturday at 8 a.m. at Middle Township High School?
How magnificent it would be if others who believe in the power one person can have would join us. How reassured Anderson would be, but more important, how many young people might be affected with a community’s prayers behind them.