A while back, my biology instructor decided to give us a lecture, which isn't normally his style.
And my brain wandered away out of the room to more important subjects, like people that surround us and how they impact our lives and souls.
Imagine if you were surrounded by the thirty people who have most influenced your life, whether as a friend, as an author, as family, as a character in a story...
... who would they be?
I'm pretty sure there would be a good number of authors like C.S. Lewis in mine. But I also expect there would certainly be some people that I wouldn't expect.
We should take stock of this life-shaping group and perhaps re-evaluate every so often.
We should also consider how we are shaping others' lives today.
As we wander through the Christmas break, rippling across the souls of family and friends, how are we impacting them?
For better or for worse?
Are we pouring out the life we've been given, sharing the gifts with which we've been blessed?
Or are we doing more taking than giving?
I heard a quote once about how to fill a full glass up more, you first need to pour it out.
How can we receive more life and joy?
Pour out what you've already been given, as paradoxical as that is.
These Christmas presents, these houses we live in, these cars we drive. All these are temporary. They'll rust, get old, get forgotten.
These precious souls around us are immortal.
Let's love them right now. Don't know about you, but I haven't poured out the life I've been given in a while. I keep taking in Jesus' words, keep listening to podcasts like a good Christian, but I haven't actually acted like I believe in Jesus at all lately. When's the last time I risked anything for God or lived like His Kingdom is on earth... mmm.
Sometimes it's good to be reminded when your brain's getting pretty stuffy that you can clear the closet, you can share your gifts. You can say no to fear and worry and plunge into the adventures Jesus has waiting for you if you'll only say yes
Like Bob Goff likes to say, "Love Does."