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Never Doubt your Impact
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C O M P A S S I O N
N E V E R D O U B T Y O U R I M P A C T
On your marks, get set, go! She shouted. It was the church parking lot, before the evening service and my brother, best friend Markus and I were racing to the end and back to determine who was the all time champion of speed. Our dilemma was that there was no one to hold the stop watch, but at just the right moment our youth pastor’s wife walked up and offered to support this competition, which was surely to be aired later on ESPN. What startled me was that she usually worked with the High School students and as a tiny 6th grade boy I wasn’t aware that she even knew I
by Pastor Kirk Ronzheimer
existed. But, she stopped to make our Junior High version of the Olympic 100meter dash possible. I can not recall who won, but I still remember that small act of compassion. As we’ ve discussed our theme this year at Epiphany, it still strikes me how compassion lends itself to the small, “often un-noticed by others” things in life. Our students wash fences, spread mulch, set up for events in the community, hand out water, spend time with little their “Little Buddies” , and so much more. They often wonder if they are making an impact, or if their effort
matters. I believe it does. We change the world by exerting our influence of love and grace in the particular location God has put us among the people He has surrounded us with. What took Mr. Ellenberger’s advisory one school day to do by spreading mulch on the Kidsville playground would have taken one city worker hours, days, possibly even weeks. And isn’t that what compassion looks like: me taking something off your plate, so that you can get to your priority list, especially if the item at the top of your list is: Rest?
C O M P A S S I O N
My encouragement to you is to never doubt your impact when you engage in the little things that demonstrate love to others. Even, or rather, especially when your effort goes unnoticed, God sees, and He doesn’t waste anything. He will use it for great Good. In a world in desperate need of compassion, though, most likely people will notice and feel the impact of your compassion- similar to some junior high boys in need of a timekeeper.
