Your impact on the lives of others is more often concealed than revealed, yet amidst this shroud of unawareness the ripples of your endeavors are felt none-the-less.    

This WWII account articulates this point beautifully. 

Bohn Fawkes piloted a B-17 Flying Fortress on many sorties over Europe.  On one mission his plane sustained heavy flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns.  Even though the gas tanks were hit, the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the aircraft. 

On the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell.  He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune.  The crew chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas tanks, none of which had exploded.  Technicians opened the missiles and found them void of explosive charge.  They were clean and harmless and, with one exception, empty.  The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper.  On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language.  Translated, the note read: “This is all we can do for you now.” 

A courageous assembly-line worker had been disarming bombs and scribbled the note.  He couldn’t end the war, but he could save one plane.  He couldn’t do everything, but he could do something.  So he did it. 

                   – Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life.

The assembly line worker never met the pilot whose life he’d saved.  It is possible that he died never truly knowing the impact of his actions, yet for Bohn Fawkes the ripples of that workers endeavors made a profound difference. 

So on those days where you are struggling with your own self-worth, remember that, like an iceberg, ninety percent of your greatness will never be revealed to you.  If you are fortunate enough to discover that ten percent, consider yourself extremely lucky, and if you are not, know this… the ripples of your endeavors are felt none-the-less.

So go forth and revel in making waves!