Whether we like it or not, wherever we go and wherever we are, we create impacts to those around us.

It can positive. And it sure can be negative.

A bus driver who frowns and greets the passengers with an unfriendly tone affect those who just board the bus.

A university lecturer who doesn’t care nor understand her role as a teacher may put down her students’ self-esteem through her insensitive remarks which in the end personally attack their feelings rather than lifting their spirits and inspiring them to move on a step further.

Now the question is, how about us?

Am I someone who edifies others?

Do I build good relationships amongst other people?

Do we tend to just complain and be judgemental about the things we ‘don’t like’ WITHOUT making any effort to create a positive change?

Wherever we are (at home, on the road, at work, etc), what have we contributed?

What have we done to our society?

Usually what happens is, when we encounter a situation where a lack of common courtesy is shown towards us, we complain about it, and are either ignorant or we get uncourteous ourselves towards others.

We scold and complain, often because we (unconsciously?) feel ‘better’ than those we’re complaining about.

But in the end, do we realise that we’ve become a part of what we’ve been complaining about ourselves?

So, what difference has our presence made?

None.

Do we make things better?

No.

Perhaps, we’ve even made the situation worse because of our presence and response.

Instead of choosing to try and give constructive impacts and influences, we may have (unconsciously or consciously) given destructive influences towards our surrounding, with our words and actions.

…

I personally was rebuked and challenged by these thoughts last Sunday.

Because I know they’re true.

And I’m guilty of these too.

Our actions and words stem out of our worldview, our overall perception to life, our mindset.

Because how we view things will greatly determine how we respond towards everything that we see and experience.

So.

Let’s make a change.

And let’s start with changing ourselves.

For the better.

…

[notes]
The above is based on what I personally have learned from the sermon by Rev. Stephen Tong on John 3:17, where it says: ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved‘.

Share This Post on Facebook