The church had just gone through a busy time and people began to complain about not getting the memo. When we countered by listing our announcements, posters, calendars, bulletin listings, and newsletter articles, they said that no one pays attention to that stuff.

   I decided to conduct an experiment. In the middle of my article, I offered a quarter to anyone still reading. There were no takers.

   A few days later, I visited with a retired community activist who had, over her many years, advanced many causes through a home-published newsletter.

   “I really enjoyed your article this month,” she said, “but I have a couple bones to pick with you. You misspelled three words, left a word out of a sentence, and then you made a punctuation error.” She handed me her copy of our newsletter, and said: “I circled them, so you could see what I mean.”

   I had been read.

   It was humbling.

   It always is.

   Author Philip Yancey has observed that he is always humbled when he learns a word he has worked hard to craft from his heart has touched the heart of another far away and changed their life.

   There are, it would seem, no idle words. The Bible says: “A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips, it is like a scorching fire. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:27 and 24)

   So, be gracious.

   An online post, a friendly word, even talk at church can change a life. Who knows?

   You may be the first memory of Jesus carried by the child who greets you in the church parking lot. The words you say, the attitude you convey, the look you cast toward a soul in a moment may be the grace God sent you to give, a blessing that a passerby will remember forever. The smile on your face, the look in your eye, or a listening ear, may give hope to a broken life, or be the first time a God seeking soul experiences God hearing his or her prayer.

   You never know how you will impact the people you meet.

   Life is an exercise in humility.

   It always is.

   “If you have any comfort from Jesus’ love,” the Bible says, “then be a deep-spirited friend. Think of yourself the same way Jesus thought of himself, as one who gave up all he had with God, so we could have a whole life with God.” (Philippians 2, The Message)

 

Pastor Skip