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“. . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  – Matthew 5:16 

Regardless if we are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, brilliant or simple, young or old, we all influence the lives of those with whom we come in contact in some way.  Influence is perhaps the most powerful of all human social characteristics in that anything we say or do may shape the life of someone else, often times without our being aware.

Once, many years ago, while attending a large gathering I overheard a man telling someone else that he was in the process of changing careers, one that on the one hand would limit his income but on the other would allow him the freedom to do those things that are more meaningful and significant.  I’m quite sure that gentleman never knew there was someone eavesdropping, nor did he realize that what he said would powerfully influence the life of a bystander.  But it was in that moment that a seed was planted in my mind that began the process of my own career change some years later.

Who’s listening when we speak?  Who’s watching what we do?  Who’s observing our everyday lives?  Who’s overhearing our conversations?  For better or worse, who are we influencing and in what way?  It is sobering to realize the power we have to influence good or evil, success or failure, hope or despair, inspiration or disappointment.

Like the man whose conversation I inadvertently overheard at a party we seldom realize the far reaching impact of our influence.  Perhaps that is even more reason to be conscious of the awesome responsibility we have in what we say and how we behave, for every word we speak and every action we take inevitably shapes the life of another.

There’s a quote I once read attributed to John Quincy Adams.  “The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality,” he said.  Therefore, “. . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” – Matthew 25:21 

The comic strip “B.C.” is one of my favorites.  A recent one showed B.C., the cartoon’s main character, looking up the term “new year’s resolution” in the dictionary, and this is what it said:  “technique used for modifying one’s behavior for the first two weeks each January.”  Hmm, I thought, how many times through the years have I done the same thing, resolving to [fill in the blank] only too quickly to slip back into my old ways – usually in less than two weeks!

As this new year approached I could already sense the insincerity of the usual promises I was making to myself – eat less, exercise more, keep my desk neater, clean out the garage, etc.  Then I found myself having a conversation with our lovely neighbors Linda and Mark from across the street that inspired me to try a different approach.  They were having lunch recently at a popular local restaurant.  The place was packed with lots of people on the wait list.  So Linda and Mark volunteered to share their table with another party if they were interested, a thoughtful gesture and a win-win for both the restaurant and its waiting patrons.  As it turned out a young couple with a small child – total strangers – accepted their offer.  Immediately they all hit it off and had a great time eating together.  Then, being the generous folks they are, but much to the astonishment of their dining partners, Linda and Mark without fanfare picked up the entire tab.

Linda and Mark’s story made me realize that most of my past new years’ resolutions have typically been about things that pertain to me, seldom others, which may be why they never last more than a couple of weeks.  So, inspired by my good neighbors I have a new resolution for 2016, to be kind, generous and befriending toward strangers, take time to help someone in need, and most importantly to express gratitude to those who serve in so many ways to make our lives better – teachers, waiters, clerks, nurses and doctors, law enforcement and military personnel, construction and maintenance workers, and selfless volunteers.  “Well done, good and faithful servant!” I’ll try to say to someone each day.  Maybe somewhere along the way it will help or encourage someone.  And perhaps, unlike B.C. this modified behavior might even last beyond the first two weeks of January.

One Final Thought for 2015 

“I know that my Redeemer lives . . .”  – Job 19:25 

Ordinarily I would not be writing this as it has been my custom these past eleven years to publish only fifty of these weekly messages per year, thus last week’s being “Issue 50” should have been the end.  However, considering the turbulence in our world today and the sense of fear, insecurity and vulnerability it has brought upon us, I feel compelled to share one final thought, and I’d like to begin by referencing the book of Job.

Job is a story about a good and righteous man who through no fault of his own fell on hard times.  In fact, he lost everything – his wealth, his health, his family.  Even his friends abandoned him, or at least their belief in his integrity.  Job himself, having no knowledge of the cosmic wager between God and Satan, could not comprehend the injustices he was suffering either, and begged God to explain.  Don’t we all?

Job’s rapid descent from the penthouse to the poorhouse for no good reason serves to remind us of our own vulnerability, as if we need reminding during such times as these.  When will the next mass shooting erupt, we ask ourselves, the next 9/11 attack, the next natural disaster, financial collapse, debilitating or fatal disease, and how close to home will they hit?  Like Job it could happen to any of us anytime.  We’re all vulnerable.

So where do we look for hope?  Again we turn to Job who, though in the depths of misery, offers this beautiful soliloquy of faith and hope.  “I know that my Redeemer lives,” he proclaims, “and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!”  These words are at the very heart of the story and are at the very heart of our own story in our own time.  “I know that my Redeemer lives,” is good news of great joy for all people, words that give me comfort and hope, peace and joy in spite of the turbulent times in which we live.  I hope they do you as well.  And that’s the one final thought I felt compelled to share with you.  May God bless you one and all during this Christmas season!

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  – Luke 12:48 

We’ve all heard it a thousand times, be careful what you pray for, or you might actually get it.  Blessings carry with them responsibilities, and if we are not willing to accept those responsibilities we should probably think twice about asking for it in the first place.

If there’s anyone on earth who is in need to be constantly reminded of this it would be me; for my life has been showered with blessings from the time I was born.  Yet, how often have I ignored the responsibilities that go with them!  It’s an ancient failing, so at least I’m not alone, although that hardly excuses my shortcomings.  God’s relationship with humanity according to the biblical story centers on the blessing of the Hebrews as His chosen people.  But in being chosen came the responsibility of upholding God’s laws, and sharing His blessings with others.  The biblical story is a rollercoaster ride whereby some Hebrew generations accepted that responsibility wholeheartedly while others ignored it, living instead as if they were entitled for being the chosen ones.  We who have been blessed in our own day seem to ride that same rollercoaster, don’t we?

In his book, Give and Take, Wharton Business School professor Adam Grant sets out to explore how a person’s intentions impacts his or her long term success.  In his research he identifies three categories of people:  Givers, those who are genuinely generous in their behavior; Takers, those who tend to be in it for themselves; and Matchers, those who often behave like givers but with an expectation of reciprocity or quid pro quo.  What he concludes (in my words not his) is that takers tend to jump ahead early on, matchers know how to play the game, but in the long run it is the givers who tend to rise to the top, who understand the real meaning of accepting responsibility.

Blessings carry with them responsibilities.  “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”  And as one who has been showered with blessings, I must constantly be asking myself how I will respond.  Will I be a giver or a taker?  How about you?

“But the people grew impatient on the way . . .”  – Numbers 21:4 

Many a man has turned and left the dock just before his ship came in, so the saying goes, and I am among them; for I wish I had a nickel for all the times I have either jumped the gun, whined and complained, or simply given up because I became impatient.  As recently as this past weekend I became impatient and turned the TV off too soon during my college alma mater’s football game.  As it turns out I “left the dock” too soon because in the end they rallied and won the game.  I remember my children when they were little whining and nagging – impatiently! – for something they wanted.  I’m sure as a child I acted the same with my parents.  Then there have been the times when I’ve jumped the gun, as when I became so impatient for a promotion that I made a terribly bad career choice that almost cost me the really big break I had been wishing for.

Impatience has been a major cause of mankind’s bad judgments, mistakes, failures, and missed opportunities throughout human history.  You might say that one of the reasons Adam and Eve ate the forbidden apple in the Garden was due to their impatience to be like God – big mistake!!  And remember the story of Abraham and Sarah?  God had promised Abraham that his offspring would be more numerous than the stars in the heavens, even though his wife Sarah was barren and way beyond childbearing age.  But Sarah and Abraham eventually became impatient, leading them to jump the gun by making an unwise decision.  Centuries later God made a promise to Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites who had been enslaved by the Egyptians, to lead them into a better land.  Yet, as Moses led them on their journey to that Promised Land they became impatient and whined and complained about the travel conditions.

It was only by a stroke of good fortune that my impatience for a promotion years ago did not ultimately cost me that big break, although it did result in some months of anguish that with patience could have been avoided.  It was a hard lesson.  Faith, hope and belief, in ourselves, others, and in God I have since learned is where we gain patience.  May we all in our respective life journeys take care to not grow impatient on the way, so as not turn and leave the dock too soon – just before our ship comes in.