Impact

From whence the whim came, I don’t know.  But I googled my name.  I still show as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in practice in Cleveland, TN.  Someone once tracked me down when I was an interim pastor in St. Petersburg, FL when she googled me and saw information that I was pastor there.  I didn’t see anything that indicated I now serve as settled pastor in Columbus, MT.  However, there were many sites selling the book I had published in 2017.  But the startling thing was that there was a site in Poland and one in India offering my book for sale.  I was stunned!  Has my book made it to places I never imagined? 

I thought about the book The Blue Sweater, a book to which I referred in my blog of December 2020.  The author had given away a sweater to a charitable organization in high school.  Years later working in Africa she encountered a boy wearing the sweater still bearing her name on the tag inside.     “The story of the blue sweater,” she wrote, “has always reminded me of how we are all connected.  Our actions—and inaction—touch people we may never know and never meet across the globe.”

Exploring the notion of impact, I came across Israelmore Ayivor, who appears to be African inspirational writer and speaker.  He had some fascinating quotes.  Ponder these:

“My father said this to me: “Israelmore, if you don’t make any impact on earth, you will die before you die. But if you impress hearts with what you do, you still live even after you are gone”
― Israelmore Ayivor

“Don’t be a pepper on the eyes of people; Rather be the salt on their tongue and make a difference that influences their sense of belonging to the earth.”
― Israelmore Ayivor

 “You got the eggs in you; the world is fully ready to celebrate the chicks out of your laying labour. Never give up. Go and breed! Go and breed great dreams.”
― Israelmore Ayivor, The Great Hand Book of Quotes

Readers, I pass these on to you.  So be “salt on the tongue” that you might influence others to increase  their sense of belonging to the earth” and “go and breed great dreams!” 

May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter.  Shalom, Kate

Hope’s Café Bonus:  “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.”― Martin Luther.  This makes me think of a story I read once.  A woman recounted how her mother had dreams of being a writer.  She set up a desk for herself with the necessary supplies.  She never got around to writing a poem or story or publishing anything.  But after her death, her daughter learned of all the people who had received her hand written notes of encouragement, gifts of her thought and care for so many individuals.  Never discount your impact on others even if it seems a small gesture to you.