Friday, August 10, 2007

Who have you impacted?

I recently "found" a person who had made a significant impact in my life when I was in my early twenties.  I say "found" because I actually didn't see them in person but "found" them on the web.  To say this person made a huge impact on my life, for the better, really is an understatement.  We met once and talked for several hours.  We had a very deep personal discussion, talking about things that I never shared w/ my good friends let alone a compete stranger.  This individual told me things about their life that again, I've never heard a good friend discuss with me before.  We then said goodbye and never saw each other again.  Yet those few hours changed my life completely.  I'm not exactly sure what my life would have been like had I not run into this individual.  "Finding" this person again had me thinking back nearly two decades of the person I was then to the person I am now and what all has transpired in my life w/i that time span.  Am I a better person now than I was then?  In some ways yes, in other ways, I don't think so.   Is my walk with Jesus closer and more personal?  Yes, but not as much as it probably should be.  

The thing about this individual is that even though they greatly influenced my life, I don't think they would remember who I was.  Maybe if given enough information about our meeting it might spark a slight memory jog but other than that what turned into a life changing event for me was most likely  just a blip on tne radar screen of their life. 

Now, this doesn't bother me in the least but it does have me wondering.  Who have I come into contact with that I've made a difference in their lives and I don't remember even meeting them?  Who have I rubbed elbows with and left an impression, good or bad, and could walk past them today and not have a glimmer of recognition.  It certainly makes me stop to think about who I really am and who the world thinks I am.  What image am I portraying to them, a confident Christian who is humble, gentle and meek?  Uh, probably not.  A hypocrite who says one thing and does something completely opposite?  I sure hope not.  Or do they see me for what I really am?  Someone who is trying to live their life according to God's will but fails miserably time and time again.

I tend to think that people don't remember me as the years pass.  Does anyone else think that as well?  I don't know why I think that, out of sight out of mind maybe?   However,  as I've pondered about this encounter I had nearly twenty years ago really now has me wondering, who have I impacted through the years and never even realized it?

5 comments:

KindredHeart said...

What a thought-provoking entry, friend. My heart is challenged and blessed...


Have a fantastic weekend with your sweet ones!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this story. It really makes one stop and think about the lives we're living and what kind of impact we're leaving on others.


Off to ponder and pray...


Christy from www.trainingheartsathome.blogspot.com

diamondsintherough said...

Hi Linda,

Wow, when you visit a blog, you really check it out! I'm flattered :o) I like your boring blog just fine. That is how mine is, too. I often think I ought to actually post something about HOMESCHOOLING, since that's what this bloghost is about... but it's just what we do, and what we HAVE been doing for years... it's the mundane here. Boring :o)


You ought to contact this influential person, even if you don't think they will remember you. She might. And she would be really blessed to know how profoundly she affected you, even if she doesn't remember you. I had this happen to me just recently. I was floored! You are right, we never know how we are affecting other people, positively OR negatively. I think of that often in this small town because we stand out like sore thumbs here. I have to be careful not to be wearing my "unsaved" face when I go out in public ;o) (What a hypocrite, huh?)


Now I'm going to go message you and ask some personal questions :o)

Sally


PS Your daughter took really lovely pictures!!!

quietcajun said...

<br><br><center><a href="http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/bundledinprayer"><img alt="" src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m80/Super_Angel/BIP4.jpg" /></a></center><br><br>



Cut and paste this entire code...


When you sign in to your blog, click on template.

Scroll down to the place you want to put it... I but mine right above my links (read the code). Click on the preview button to see how it looks. It is in the wrong place click reset and try again. If it is in the right place save changes.


If this doesn't work let me know and I will give you more exact instructions.

Anonymous said...

You have had a very positive impact on me. Do you have any pictures of the moon eclipse?


Love,

DH