Connected

“That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.” This quote, from The Five People You Meet in Heaven, means to me that we all impact one another. People come and go, and every person you meet changes, impacts, or gives you a lasting impression. For example, a painter is painting a picture, and with each brush stroke, the painting is altered. With people, we impact one another in positive and negative ways with each interaction we have with them.  An example of a positive impact is a person mowing their neighbor’s yard, and that neighbor in turn, mowing another person’s lawn. This can lead to a chain reaction of positive impressions. Impacts can also be negative. In life, a negative impact would be if someone is having a bad day and is rude to someone. This rudeness can cause a chain reaction of negativity to occur. This type of negativity is also seen in the book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which states, “Eddie, wearing tawny pants and a wool cap, chases after it, and runs in front of an automobile, a Ford Model A.”  The man driving that Ford Model A, was so frightened by that terrible experience that he nearly gets in an accident which causes him to have a heart attack and die. As a Christian leader, I try to have only positive interactions with people. Ultimately, this is impossible for me or anyone to achieve because the only perfect person was Jesus. As Christians, we must strive to be the lighthouse in a stormy world. Christians must try to lead others to Christ in a positive way. In the Bible, it says in Matthew 5:16 (NIV), “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This means that Christians need to be the ones that give hugs to someone when they are having a bad day. Christians need to smile at everyone we meet. We must try to be polite and courteous to everyone in the hope that they will see Jesus in us. These positive interactions can impact others’ lives in such a profound way, that it may lead them to accept Jesus as their Lord. In conclusion, I believe that any choice you make affects other people in our lives, whether it is in a positive or negative way. In the end, it is our choices that cause chain reactions. I believe this is how we are all connected.