Under the Influence

“At some point in your life, you need to decide if you are going to impress people…

or influence them.” 

~ Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission

I’ll be honest, sometimes when I sense someone is wanting to impress me or others I end up left with a bad taste in my mouth. (I know I shouldn’t judge…) I don’t want flash, I want substance.

But what am I doing on a daily basis?

Am I going through my day bent on impressing certain people? — or am  I working on my influence? Substance is an awfully mundane topic but it’s absolutely essential if I am who I say I am. And, it doesn’t happen by accident. Substance is the fall-back of character. Despite the sometimes tedious nature of establishing it, truth be told I want it to be the foundation of my parenting, my work, my art, my spiritual life…virtually, everything. When someone has influenced me, I move closer to their way of being. I’m not just like them while they’re around; that would equate to a reaction to peer pressure. I become something different and it sticks. For whatever compunction, I leave part of my old ways behind. Thinking about it, when I’ve sought to impress someone I tend to be a copy of someone — or something — else. And, who wants to be a copy?

 As I gain life experience (a.k.a. “get older” but not that old), I’ve realized that without examining my days through the lense of influence, whether I want to admit it or not the quality of them is diminished. It’s kind of like my sudden need for readers. I can get away without the age-exposing eyewear but I know I’m missing detail. I’m aware things aren’t as sharp as they could be. (Thank goodness WholeFoods sells really cute ones, now).  I want to be sharp — capturing every brilliant detail of God’s creative plan for me.

 

Want an adventure? Consider whether your life has centered on impressing people or influencing them, lately. What difference would it make in how you’ve been approaching things? Ask a friend if he/she notices one characteristic moreso than the other in you. True strength resides in humility. Humility undergirds lasting influence. And, that kind of  influence can change the world.