The Ripple Effect

Tip: Use a long range lens for photographing raindrops- not only will your depth of field be nicer, it will also prevent you from having to get as close and risk getting water on your lens.

I knelt on the ground, eyes affixed to the puddle in front of me, watching the rain drops splash as I attempted to get my camera to focus just right. Each drop quickly sent off dozens of little water rings, and those began overlapping other sets of rings, until finally the whole puddle was a whole mass of rippling water. What began as small separate happenings affected the entire pool of water.

We are a lot like that, too. We'll do something- maybe private, or maybe with another person. It feels reasonably insignificant, but even those things that seem like personal affairs can affect those around us, whether for better or worse. It's those things that will over time shape who we are and how we act, and eventually in some way, they will play out to others. Whether we realize it or not, everything tends to operate as a piece of a chain reaction, and someday everything will run it's course and affect the whole.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

This verse speaks of the good works and "light" that we as Christians are to put forth in the world. We ought to be shining beacons of testimony about God as we live our lives. The inverse can also be true, however; if we are living even just our private lives poorly, that will eventually come out as what everyone sees of us as our sins become more habitual.

What kind of ripple are you sending off into the lives of those around you?