Chaplain’s Column

Make an Impact

Have you ever considered what life would be without some of the contributions of persons who impacted our society in such meaningful ways?

Think about it!

What would our life be like today if Garrett Morgan did not invent the traffic light? Everyone would simply drive according to their own desire, stop and go as they pleased and there would be many traffic accidents.

What about life without the pea plant experiment by Gregor Mendel; the Father of Modern Genetics? It was because of his experiment scientists today understand why we have the traits that we have because of the genes that are located on the chromosomes we received from our parents.

What would life be without school teachers? Folks! We would not have the heroes we have in life, entrepreneurs, scientists, entertainers or great discovery because no one would be formally educated.

It is a pretty dismal thought if we did not have the benefit of other’s contributions and their impact to society.

I am reminded of a biblical text that Christ taught His disciples along the side of a hill. They sat attentively as He talked about salt and light. Christ taught His disciples about being the salt of the earth and the light shone for others to see.

One of the things I think that you should be made aware of is salt was also used as an additive for fertilizing the soil. Ancient farmers would use this compound to incite growth of their crops.

There is a lesson to be learned from this metaphor. We should seek to incite growth and development in the lives of those who are in our sphere of influence.

In essence, we’re the fertilizer (salt) to our co-workers, family, friends and associates.

Here’s the observation that I want to convey to you about being salt. Incite growth and betterment in the lives of those you are able to interact with. That is a wonderful way to make a significant impact.

How can you make an impact by inciting growth in others? You can do so by challenging your colleagues to go back to school to earn their degree. You can also incite growth in others by walking alongside them when they are struggling to perform on the job. Incite growth in others can be as simple as telling a family member who is at his or her wits end to trust in their faith. Yes! You can make an impact in so many people’s lives just by encouraging them to grow and not settle for mediocracy. Here’s the second observation from the biblical story about being the light that intentionally shines. You can make a significant impact in the lives of others by demonstrating that which you desire them to become. Be a reflection of your expectations of them. Scientists will tell you that the moon does not have its own source of light. In fact, the moon revolves around the sun so that it can reflect the sun’s light at night. The reflection from the sun on the moon, provides us with light in darkness, an indicator of the time of the month based on the lunar phases of the moon and so much more. All from a reflection. Here’s the practical application of the metaphor of being the light. Be what you want others to be and reflect it often. Be ethical. Be honest. Be timely. Be professional. Be fair. Be understanding. Be forgiving. Be a good communicator. Be proficient in your work. Be considerate. If you and I can reflect these and so many more attributes, then we can make a significant impact in the lives of our colleagues, friends and family members. Many people learn by watching. A child learns how to handle conflict by watching mom and dad handle conflict. That same child learns how to communicate by watching and listening to the words they hear from adults. Impact can be made by simply demonstrating what you desire to see in others. Ultimately, we make an impact by “being” and “doing.” Be a reflection of that which we expect of others and do whatever it takes to incite growth in the lives of the people we see day in and day out. Whatever you do. Make an impact!