Rippling out...

Every dewdrop and raindrop had a whole heaven within it.

~h.w. longfellow

Imagine a lake. It's calm. It is as still as you have never seen it before. This autumn morning has breathed some fog, it's tucked into the trees and along the shore of the lake. You are sitting on a beach of rocks. The rocks are rough and eroded, others are smooth and flat. You take a smooth stone and skip it on the still lake. The rock has sunk, the ripples go out from where the rock has carved through the body of water. The ripples go on, it takes a few minutes before the ripples mellow out to stillness.

I like to think that is our lives. The ripples on that still lake. Who we are and what we do ripples out to other people's lives. We are nudged by the ripples people make in our lives or tossed about by the waves blown by them. Whether we like it or not, we are making an impact wherever we go.

Of who we are.

And what we stand for in life.

I can imagine my life. Everyday my prayer is that in some way, great or small, the impact I make is something that lasts.

On that lake I'm moving toward something. I'm moving to the other side of the lake where the Creator stands.

On the other side of the lake where heaven dwells.

I go out from where I started. I'm not alone on this lake, in my journey. I've met many who've impacted my life, positive and negative. I have met many who experienced positive and negative things from me.

Whatever ripples out from me, I pray that it is something that is life-giving- by gentle ripples and even waves that shake the other person. The Great Spirit compells me to move in a way that the impact made on others is not ignored.

The good that pours out from me is only of God.

Always was.

As I'm moving toward my goal, my home, others are being touched and they will also see where the line of ripples trail from. The impacts I've made, they point to where I am heading.

I'm going that way because of hope.

Because of change in my life.

That change is continuing and does not stop.

I'm going because of love.

Because of One Man. And a cross.

Truths are first clouds; then rain, then harvest and food.

~Henry Ward Beecher

Great joy has welled up in my life as I walk in the steps the One who has created me.

Incredible peace harmonizes my life.

It's all in grace.

Because of grace I live,

because of grace I stand,

because of grace I am where I am.

I get to go out on the lake and live the difference He makes in my life.