⭐ One grandfather. One story. One Blessing Well.

A Blessing Well for Grandpa

Honoring legacy, love, and the ripple effect of one life

At Butterfly Effect Global, we believe a single life can create ripples that travel far beyond time and place. A Blessing Well is more than clean water—it is a living legacy, a way to honor those who shaped us and to let their love continue flowing into the world. This Blessing Well is dedicated to a grandfather whose stories, joy, and spark continue to ripple through generations.

The man, the myth, the legend. That's right! and he was my grandpa! He had sooo many stories. I could sit for hours in the garage just listening to his tales. And rightfully so... see my grandpa was also a fisherman. Except for some reason, the fish really did seem as big as he said they were in real life. Well at least in my eyes growing up.

Paduaguda Village is Blessed with a clean living water Blessing Well.

My grandpa got me into fishing at a young age. I just loved it. It was the one hobby that traveled with me throughout my life. Anywhere I went I had to be close to water and you bet your ass I was trying to fish it. I felt like a modern day Tom Sawyer just hitting the road with a fishing pole and bait. I once rode a bike 7 miles to a lake. I fished a canal in the middle of a city. I've fished a lagoon on a golf course (almost got arrested). Hell, I'd probably fish the sewers if there were anything worth catching.

And then… I stopped. It was like life just became too much. I had three daughters and a wife. I had two businesses that were fairly new and zero time for fishing. Year after year I kept saying, “next year, I gotta get back out there,” and it just never happened.

🦋 So as I got older I realized how precious time was and said to myself I need to go see my Grandpa. The first year I brought the family and we had so much fun, but I still felt like I was missing something. The little boy in me wanted to go fishing so bad for the first time in years and it just wasn’t the right time. My grandpa lived next to the biggest inland lake in Michigan and the area was known for great fishing.

So the following year we made it a point for just me to go spend time with my grandpa and make it a boys trip. We fished hard for 4 days straight and we had so much fun. We caught so many fish and had so many stories. It was truly amazing. I ended up going to see him every year after that.

The craziest thing about it was my grandpa. The excitement my grandpa had when a fish struck the pole was contagious. 80-year-old man was on fire! It was electrifying. So much that it sparked new interest in fishing for myself and reinforced why I needed to come back and visit.

So in the beginning I went to see my grandpa because of how precious time was, but he ultimately showed me that while time is precious, it’s what you do with it that counts. That finding happiness is just as important. You cannot be so focused that everything else slips by.

Nowadays, I make it a point to take my daughters fishing every year just to share some of that spark my grandpa gave me and to take time away from all the distractions and be happy. I’ll never forget my grandpa. He was the greatest man on Earth and his fish were always as big as he said they were! Scouts honor.

Matthew McMacken

✨ The Ripple Continues

This Blessing Well, dedicated in Grandpa’s honor, now provides clean, life-giving water to a village in India—ensuring that his legacy of joy, presence, and love continues to flow. Just as he taught the importance of slowing down, savoring life, and finding happiness, this well stands as a reminder that what we give—especially love—never stops giving back.

One grandfather. One story. One Blessing Well.
A ripple of love that will flow for generations.

So much good continues to ripple through Odisha, India because of you—our donors, supporters, and partners in service.

I woke up today filled with love, gratitude, and deep appreciation for every heart that walks beside us on this journey of compassion and transformation.

At the end of January, John and I will be traveling to India, where we look forward to visiting the Blessing Wells, spending time in the leprosy colonies, and joyfully inaugurating our new Skill Building Center—a place of empowerment, dignity, and new beginnings.

With all my love and heartfelt gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Lori McMacken
Co-Founder, Butterfly Effect Global 🦋