Someone is always watching you.
Not to be creepy, but this is a lesson that God continues to teach me every day. As we go about our daily lives, we are often unaware of the many people that take notice of us. Especially strangers. We don’t realize that we can influence the person in the far corner of the classroom or at the next table just as much as we can influence our best friend.
One of the most unique gifts from God is the opportunity to impact people we don’t even know just by simply living our lives. Unfortunately, we’re able to affect others negatively just as much as positively.
Here is an example. Today a flood of future students poured on campus to prepare themselves and get them excited for the upcoming school year.
I pushed through the sea of families and overwhelmed students to our school’s prayer chapel. Once there, I found my seat on one of the kneeling benches and began writing in my journal.
Amidst the traffic of families touring the chapel, I noticed a guy looking around at all of the little slips of prayer requests. He seemed comfortable as if this were one of the regular places he would go on campus.
While I scribbled away in my journal, I kept noticing him out of the corner of my eye make his way around the chapel. Looking up at him, I watched as he knelt in the corner, his palms facing up in prayer. Then he would stand, look over some prayer requests and return to his corner to kneel and pray. I even saw him go around the chapel gently touching each prayer request as he went.
Who was this guy?
Over on the ledge of the cascading fountain, I noticed a familiar university folder. When he picked it up, I realized that he was one of the visiting future students. Today may have been his first day in the prayer chapel, and he spent more than 30 minutes experiencing God within its walls.
This guy, not even a student yet, was already making an impact on me and on this campus without having to say a word. He left the chapel, and all I could think about was how God would use him in his college career. What’s more is that he has no clue that I observed all he did nor will he ever know how he brought a smile to my face and a blessing to my heart today.
Friends, let’s be reminded of the many people that are subconsciously taking note of how we act, and let’s strive to be people that positively impact everyone we encounter, including those we never interact with.
God bless!
-LJM
Matthew 5:16
Leah Jordan Meahl 