Last week, our nation mourned the passing of Rosa Parks. As I watched the news coverage of her memorial service, I couldn’t help to think, “Now, that’s someone who made a difference in her dash.” She helped usher in the modern civil rights movement, which not only made it possible for millions of African-Americans to live their dreams, but made America a better place to live for all of us. She literally changed the course of history.

However, perhaps the remarkable thing about this woman was that she was an ordinary person. When we normally think of great men and women, we think of political leaders or titans of industry or great philanthropists. Rosa Parks was none of these things. She was an ordinary seamstress, who, one day, decided to take an extraordinary stance.

This demonstrates quite clearly that anyone can make a difference; even you and me. After all, Rosa Parks’ contribution to America didn’t require great inventive powers like those possessed by, say, Thomas Edison, or great oratorical abilities, like those possessed by, say, President John F. Kennedy. She did a very simple thing – she sat down. This is something that everyone can do. Yet, we spent last week honoring her memory, because she did an ordinary thing that had extraordinary results.

My question for you is this: What ordinary thing can you do that could have extraordinary results? Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking that we must accomplish some great feat in order to make a difference in life. We think that we must start a multinational corporation or lead a powerful organization or give millions of dollars to charity. Yet, the truth of the matter is that making the most of your dash can be as simple as sitting down on a city bus.

This is actually great news! Let’s face it. We can’t all go out and create large companies. Nor can we all be the President of the United States, the head of the United Nations or the head of Major League Baseball. However, each of us can do something small to get the ball rolling.

Remember, Rosa Parks didn’t end segregation in the South. She simply got the ball rolling by being the impetus for the Birmingham bus boycott, which in turn, got the ball rolling for lunch counter sit-ins, which in turn, got the ball rolling for freedom marches, which in turn, got the ball rolling for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the numerous laws which have made America better live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all..

How can you get the ball rolling? You don’t have to solve the problem of, say, adult literacy in the United States. Simply get the ball rolling in your town by teaching one person to read. Likewise, you don’t have to end homeless in America. Just get the ball rolling by helping one homeless person in your town.

Once you get the ball rolling, momentum and gravity will join forces to help it pick up speed. The challenge is to break the initial inertia, whether it is prejudice, greed or simple indifference.

Those of us living in America have the benefit of living in one of the most prosperous countries in the history of the world. Yet, our society is not without its share of problems. Yet, the solutions to these problems do not require great acts of heroism performed by people with phenomenal powers and resources. The solutions lie in ordinary people doing ordinary things with extraordinary love and courage. The solutions lie in people like you and me getting the ball rolling. Let’s all resolve to start pushing today.