Unanticipated consequences of daily interactions

Unanticipated consequences of daily interactions

I recently read a chapter of book that had at its core this very interesting idea. What are the unseen results of my actions? I found this intriguing, what happens as a result of my actions or inaction that I am not aware of? Am I bringing a blessing or a hindrance to those I am unaware of?

The very premise is fundamentally true; our actions have effects beyond our presence. While it is true that some of these will be insignificant that hardly means they all are. The way we treat others are seen and perhaps reflected on. The way we look or react to events cause ripples, what do those ripples do?

Do we leave a wake of encouragement behind us or something else? We have all seen photos of people who have acted in a way that is cringe worthy resulting in many people wondering if they believe they live alone on this planet. What do photos of us leave people thinking we believe?

Obviously the point of the chapter was to encourage the reader to intentionally act in ways that left a wake of encouragement. So this brings into question how is that accomplished? How are we to act so that we are a blessings to people we are not interacting with? What attributes are we to live out in order to encourage people we are not touching?

Perhaps it has less to do with determining how to act and instead focus on how we think? Let me explain. If we believe we are the most important person in the room we will act like it. The most likely result of believing we are the most important person is arrogance or self entitlement. Though if we believe that others are valuable our actions should reflect that belief.

Now please do not hear me say that you are not valuable or important I expect and truly anticipate that you are. What I am saying is how do we see ourselves in a group? Does the world revolve around me to the exclusion of all others or do they also have value? The waves of perception that we leave behind will be the result of these beliefs.

Yes you can act as if others matter but if you do not believe it that is what will be seen by those you do not directly connect with. Mark 9:35 reminds us that he who would be first must serve others. (Yes that is a paraphrase.) This passage has at its core a very similar idea to the chapter I read. How we treat others reflects on us to a much greater degree than we might currently believe.

I truly believe that our wake is much large than we know or would expect. What are we leaving behind us?

Blessings