People Who Make A Difference
"Good people have good things in their hearts." - Matthew 12:35
Name the ten wealthiest men in the world. Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. How did you do? I didn’t do well either. With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we forget, isn’t it? And what I’ve mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one. Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile. Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time. Easier? It was for me, too. The lesson? The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern. (from And the Angels Were Silent by Max Lucado)
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Reflection
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”
For many years, I moved around place to place, school to school; because of my parent's jobs, or because I went off to college, and then eventually moved here to Sidney, NE. 1,172 miles from home...not a trip I get to make back often. I came across this story above, and the quote many years ago, and learned that that's just how my life felt. People were always coming into my life, and then when a new place came, they would leave it, but I never did forget those people who truly touched my life.
I think as we move forward in the church, with the start of our new Pastor Tom Hyde, we do need to remember where we have come from, and how many people have shaped the church. No matter what has happened in the past, both the ups and downs, it make the church what it is, not because of money or because of all the things that happen within the walls, but because of the people who are not only providing service within the church, but taking it out of the church as well. It takes the many people, the members, and followers of Christ's teachings to make the church what it is and to make it grow in service, fellowship, worship, and so many other ways.
As we need to know where we've been, we need to spread our wings, and soar to new places, reach out to more people, and love one another. We need to make a mark on our community, so that someday, years down the road, when we have a new person happen upon Sidney First UMC come and share their story of how when they were young or years back, they were touched by someone through Christian love from our church when they needed it, and it helped them a long the way in their life. We want to be known as the church who always loved, reached out, and shared God's love in our community. Rather than being known as that church on the hill, who has their services on Sunday at (insert time).
How can you/church, reach out today and be that person who leaves footprints on someone's heart that will never fade?
~Courtney S-B~
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