Friday; May 31

On May 31, 1970 an earthquake struck the area around the Peruvian community of Chimbote.  The earthquake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale and killed over 65,000 people while leaving three-quarters of a million homeless.  The earthquake, which could be felt some 400 miles away in Lima, created landslides and avalanches that devastated entire towns.
As I read about this devastation I got to thinking about the influence we have on people.  Just as an earthquake can shake the foundations of the areas around it, our actions can have an impact on our family, friends and community.  The certainty is that we are going to have an influence – the question is will the impact be positive and spiritual or will it be negative and evil?  Most of us have heard the adage – we don’t live in a vacuum – and that saying is also true of the people around us.  Just as they influence us, we influence them.
King Solomon used an illustration that I think is particularly interesting, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17).  Not only do we rub off on each other, we have the ability to perfect and hone those around us.  No, we can’t make anyone sinless or mistake-free, but we can help each other become better.
When people walk away from us, are they better for having had the interaction?  Are sharpening or dulling the people around us?
Think About It!

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