How One Person can Cause Change

As a Christian, our paths have crooks and turns that can bring joy or sadness. We are not promised that life is perfect. Sometimes, obedience to Christ can be more difficult for us than a non believers life. I have been thinking about this since before Christmas, how one thing can change in a blink of an eye. How satan hits so hard when you are trying to do the best you can. Although, everything imageable happened to me and sister growing up, we managed to rise up. It was not easy, but we did. Even after having a suicide attempt, nothing in life hit me as hard as losing a child. You can read my book if you want to know about my suicide attempt. This post is about how one man did something that sparked two people to reexamine their own lives. I want this to be a very positive post.

We all understand the domino effect. It is linear and predictable, but the butterfly effect is chaotic and unpredictable. It can cause a good effect or a bad one. There can be long term effects from a minor event.

A few Sundays ago, one man walked the aisle to join our church with an intense boldness. He was already a believer, but he wanted to be baptized into our faith family. He wanted to make a bold statement to family and friends. To me this is when he, unknowingly, sparked an unpredictable chain of events. He sparked another person to join the next Sunday. But he sparked in me that I needed to rededicate some areas in my life. I was left emotionally broken after my suicide attempt and putting the pieces back together made me different in areas. It has been a long climb back. But losing Kayla has made me hold on to anger for several things. Especially, when I found out the whole truth surrounding her death a year ago. Then all the ear problems and extremely low blood pressure issues just added fuel to the flame. I couldn’t sing, I just quit going to church on Wednesday nights because I just felt bad. There were some other obstacles along the way that broke me a little more. But when I saw a person that I love make a bold statement, I knew God was stirring. I knew the Holy Spirit was telling me it was time to give all that anger and sadness to God and let Him handle all of it.

I did not what to usurp a person I love dearly, knowing she was going to join the church the following Sunday, because she was also inspired by that one man. But she wanted me to go up with her. So we went together. I have felt so much more at peace than I have in a while. All because of an unpredictable chain of events.

I am sharing this because when we do things people are watching to see what kind of fruit we are showing. As Christians, are fruit should be good to spark something unpredictable for good. And that does not mean what’s in it for us, but rather for building people up. Life is chaotic, but are we showing good or bad fruit. Either way they both have long term effects. Whether, we like it or not God sees all, and he sees our hearts. You cannot hide your sin from Him.

I do not have a clue what is around the corner, but I want to have more good fruit than bad. I know my heart will be broken at times, but God gave me that heart. And it is full of empathy and sympathy for others. I have learned how to set boundaries the hard way. I am learning how to ask for discernment and clarification now from God. And I have people that are watching over me, sometimes like a hawk, because they are tired of seeing my heart getting broken. I will not apologize for having the gift of mercy, that is a spiritual gift. But, I have realized that I don't have to do for everyone. So, I am grateful for that one man that walked the aisle and sparked two people that are named after dish soap to be bold too. Be bold in your walk with God and take those pains to the altar that we face everyday.

Dawn Renee