 Words from Will
Who's Watching You?
As Josh concluded his faithful sermon yesterday, he challenged us with 2 questions:
- Are you hanging out with God enough for God to influence you?
- Who are you influencing along the way (and how)?
Those are my paraphrases, but they've stuck with me. Josh is right - influence happens regardless of our intentions. Remember when Charles Barkley claimed that, "I'm not a role model?" There was strong reaction because many recognized that he didn't have a choice. A prominent sports figure is going to influence people whether he means to or not. So it is with all of us (not just those who are in the spotlight) because someone is always watching. Those who don't know us compare our bumper stickers with our driving. Those who do know us compare our stated beliefs with our actions. Some watch and want to be like us. Some watch and are disappointed by us. It probably has a lot to do with what they happen to see.
There's an old Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show, that comes to mind when I think about people watching me. I sometimes imagine that I'm the Truman character where everyone is watching me without my knowledge. More than once, I've passed a piece of trash, remembered that I told my campers (almost 20 years ago!) to pick up trash when we see it, and returned to pick it up. I know, most likely, that no one will see me pick it up, but if anyone saw that episode from my days as a camp counselor, they'd think me a fraud for not living up to what I told those campers to do. Corny, I know, but it's a check. What if we always have someone watching to see if the choices we make when the lights aren't on match the words we say when they are? For one thing, our influence would be stronger, better.
Back to Josh's first question, I'm much better at influencing others in a positive way when I'm under God's influence. I'm more patient when I consider Jesus' patience; kinder when I have felt the Spirit's kindness; more confident when I remember that this is about God, not me.
Spend some time this week considering Josh's questions. They're at the heart of faithful discipleship; a place we all want to be, whether someone is watching or not.
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