Ripple Effect

This morning, I sat on my patio just as the light of day was dawning where everything was still and quiet. The water in the pool was not moving and almost appeared as glass, reflecting vividly the cloudy sky above and the plants around it.

It was peaceful and I was praying. The singing of the birds was the only sound breaking the silence. I watched as they ate from the bird feeder and then flew away. 

As I prayed, a dark cloud rolled in slowly and I saw one large raindrop hit the pool, breaking the surface of the water and creating a large ripple.  I watched as the ripple grew bigger and bigger.  Slowly, other raindrops began to fall, a very light sprinkle but the effect it left was concentric ripples going out in all directions.  Ripples upon ripples crashing into each other. 

Watching, I began to think of the ripples as representing my actions. My good actions and my sinful actions.  I felt the Lord say to me, “Everything you do has an impact on others.  It can be a ripple effect of goodness spreading to others or it can be a ripple effect of sin spreading to others. Be the good ripple.”

I meditated on this.  The ripple causes a chain reaction, and others react to it.  A good ripple, such as smiling at someone as I pass by immediately produces a reciprocal smile from that person.  It’s a natural reaction.  In turn, that person may pass the smile on to someone else.

A bad ripple, such as getting angry and yelling at someone produces a reaction as well.  Sometimes it can cause the other person to sin and become angry. They in turn yell back at me or take it out on someone else.  This is far worse.  Then not only am I responsible for my own sin but now I am responsible for provoking the other person to sin.  My ripple effects them.  Their ripple effects someone else, and the circle continues to grow. 

I’ve been thinking about this all morning especially as it relates to this season of Lent.  Lent is not just a season to give up something, to give alms, and to do something good.  The purpose of Lent is to affect a change in me.  What I do must effectively change me to become like Jesus. To be Christ to others.  To be the good ripple. 

If the sacrifice I make or the giving that I do doesn’t change me then what good is it?  The change in me must have a lasting ripple effect.  A change that others can see, that impacts others to provoke them to better themselves.  That’s the ripple effect I want to be. 

It’s the ripple effect Jesus wants me to be.  Jesus calls me not to just follow Him but to become like Him. To love like Him. To be compassionate towards others like Him.  To forgive others like Him.

Jesus was a ripple effect of love that radically changed the world. 

Today, let us be cognizant of our actions big and small. Let us reflect on how our actions have a ripple effect impacting others.  Let us pray that we become the “good ripple,” changing us to become like Jesus.