The Ripple Effect

In sermon a while back, the pastor was discussing how the things we do aren't just for now.
The actions we take today, the choices we make, have lasting effects. The effect that shapes eternity. Wow! What a concept!

In theory I see it as this:

You smile at the woman who enters the door with you at the grocery store. She in turn shares that with the deli worker,who by the way has been having a horrible morning, and the woman adds a kind remark and "thank you". The deli worker with the rough frame of mind now finds his mood a little lighter - who wouldn't when we feel appreciated? He's a little more patient with his young boss, who is nervous about the "big boss" coming in, and double wipes the counter and offers an encouraging word. The young boss now has a little more confidence because his employee believes in him. He can calmly and rationally discuss the major issues at hand. The "big boss" is impressed and feels more secure in his area of management. He in turn is more thoughtful and respectful of his assistant, who then can show more respect for husband. Her husband feels more loved and is able to wake up feeling refreshed and valuable when he returns to work in the morning. On his way...he offers a smile to the guy behind him in line at the convenience store...and so the one smile travels onward and upward.

In actuality, I'm sure it's much more profound.

I've seen the ripple effect in a little couple I'll call "Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama". :-) Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama were a part of our church. They lead our Praise and Worship team and were a general delight. This fine young couple was called away from the church to a new home. :-( Although they are happy where they are and doing as they were called to do, their ripple effect still going...
After a period of about 1/2 a year, the roles of Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama were filled. Not replaced, but a new couple came to lead the team. We'll call them, "Mr. Trying Real Hard and His Wife".
During the time between the leaving of Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama and the arrival of Mr. Trying Real Hard and His Wife, everyone always wante to know who had heard from Mr. B and L.M. Where were they? What were they doing? How were their children? Then, after the arrival of Mr. Trying Real Hard and His Wife, it became evident that Mr. B and L.M. were still sorely missed.
Poor Mr. TRH and HW were, even are to this day, compared to Mr.B and L.M.
When HW sings, you hear, "Well, she's no L.M." Mr. TRH is met with a little less enthusiasm than Mr. B. and I personally have heard numerous times from the pastor, "When Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama were here...."

What must it be like to be Mr. Trying Real Hard and His Wife? If I've heard it, others have and you know Mr. TRH and HW have heard it and I'm sure it's more prevalent to them than it is to me. How far their ripple will travel has yet to be known. How the ripple remaining from others will have an effect on them will show sooner rather than later, to be sure.

It's interesting.

Mr. Bigstuff and Little Mama had such a profound and lasting effect on those whose lives they touched -and I'll bet they don't even know. They probably just thought that they were here and were called to be elsewhere and that's the end of it. But it's not. It never is just the end of it. Their ripple effect is still going. Onward and outward to all those who knew them and know them still.

It's Another Day in Montgomery and I ask:

How wide will your ripple trickle? It's probably a lot further than you think. I hear tell it goes through eternity.