Can you think back to a time in your life where you had a major influence on someone's life? It may be hard to think of something at first that you did that might have been amazingly good that made another persons life change for the better. But yet, no matter who you are, you must have been a good person to somebody and gave them hope of one kind or another.

It is like we are a pebble that skips across the pond, hitting the water in different places until we stop and sink. By sinking we stop trying. Trying to make the world, at least in some small way, a better place for all.

We go through life, from day to day, trying to do the best that we can, at least when we make the effort to. There are other times though that we may be sinking more times than we would like and our pebble has not skipped enough times.

But then there are times when the pebble not only skips, but seems to fly through the air as if, on one of the contacts with the water, the pebble took flight and leapt farther than the other skips. This is a time in your life that reminds you of the saying about having your fifteen minutes of fame and you have made a major impact on a lot of lives.

As we grow older and wiser and try to understand the world around us, we begin to understand a little more about the meaning of life. But yet is there really anybody that ever lived on this planet that knew about life as Jesus did?

Mark 8:17-18 Jesus realized what they were discussing and said, "No, that isn't it at all! Can't you understand? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18`Your eyes are to see with-why don't you look? Why don't you open your ears and listen?' Don't you remember anything at all?" TLB

Sometimes it is hard for us to open an ear and listen. We are distracted by the economy or by whether we agree with the president on an issue, or even on whether or not the pinch runner will make it to third base. But yet these things are not all that important. We are not forever changed by the economy, even though we may think we are.

Things may happen in this world that may be beyond our control. We may see, but not really see. It is so hard sometimes to read between the lines. We may not see what is right in front of us because we may be telling ourselves it is not there and we cannot find it. How is that for irony?

And by the same token, have we not been able to find ourselves in the laugh of a child or the sound of a gentle breeze on a beautiful Spring day? Or look at a leaf as it falls from the tree. Does it think about where it will end up, eventually to turn into dust as our bodies eventually will?

We can choose to be ignorant of what God wants for our lives. We can decide, right now, that life is not worth living unless we can make a difference in somebody's life and go out there and find a person who may need some help and give it to them. They may not be receptive of it because they may be caught up in their own personal world. But unless we try to make another person's life better, how can we face the mirror every morning not having done something special for another person from time to time.

Genesis 39:2-3 The Lord greatly blessed Joseph there in the home of his master, so that everything he did succeeded. 3 Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph in a very special way. TLB

Joseph was special, just like of each is in our own way. Do not let another day go by without letting somebody know that you love them. Or maybe you see an old lady that you think needs to get across the street, so you help her. Of course she may hit you with her purse because she really did not want to walk across the street in the first place and instead wanted to walk around the corner. But at least you tried.

And isn't that what's important... trying. Unless we try, the world will pass us by like leaves in the wind or pollens floating on by. Or like grains of sand on a beach being tossed up by many a foot. You can make a difference. You can make another person'd life a little better or a lot. And isn't that what life should be about?

Prayer: Dear Lord, sometimes I have lost my way and have trouble finding that path I am supposed to be on. At those times, Lord, please help me to get on the right path. Help me to realize that you are always there for me. Please give me love and help me to share it with others. I thank you for all your many blessings. Amen.

Benediction: Now, Lord, Bless us in our daily lives. Help us to smell the roses whenever possible, to shine our light on those less fortunate than us, and lead us in the path we should go. For you are the light that keeps our path well lit. Help us to follow it, until we meet you, in a land where milk and honey abound, a place where our most wonderful dreams are fulfilled. Amen.

Hi, my name is Bryan, a messenger of hope who would love to hear from you. God Bless.

© 2005 Bryan Hill