I often wonder what kind of impact I have on people. I don’t mean the initial impact I make. Most people think I’m stuck up before they really know me…the real answer is that I’m just introverted. Rather, I’m talking more along the lines of the impact you can make on someone’s life over a longer period of time.
Rose saw my old sales job boss at the restaurant a few days ago. He almost forgot my name and couldn’t remember hers. I spent endless hours with him for over four months, 5 days of the week. He was the one who was going to “shape” me into a great salesman and we spent a lot of car rides talking about God and the church both of us went to…yet the impact I guess I made on his life was nothing, or so it feels.
In high school I made some great friendships. Some of those friendships still exist today, and a couple of those friends are bloggers and readers of this blog too. I am so encouraged to see the path God has them on. The same would not be said for some of my other friends. I guess they are friends because I make the effort all the time. I’ve often wondered, is it a true friendship if only one person makes the effort all the time, or at least it feels like all the time.
In college I didn’t make as many close friendships, but the ones that were close felt like the same thing. Me always making the effort, little connection after college.
The truest friend I have had through it all, is an email and a country away. He is missed quite often.
I just read everything I wrote, kind of depressing, I know. Sorry.
One question…is it possible to determine the impact you make on someone’s life?
