Good afternoon, friends, this is Pastor Don. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Frantz is a United Church of Christ minister who retired after serving two long-term pastorates. He was reflecting on an idea popular in the 70’s called “Chaos Theory.” That theory proposes that even the most miniscule change anywhere, makes a change everywhere. In everyday language, everything we do and say matters and changes things in ways that we can never retract. We have watched that in the public arena where people boldly say unkind, untrue things and the consequences have changed public discourse in tragic ways.
But you don’t have to be a public figure to change big things for the better or worse by the little things you say or do. Rev Frantz reminds us: “The smallest act of love, kindness, and compassion makes a difference–often, a difference greater than we will ever know. These acts of kindness and love add up. And over time, they lift up the spirit of community life.”
It is so important to be thoughtful, loving, and careful about our words. Like a pebble thrown into a still pond, ripple effects change the whole pond. Saying and doing the right things matter! Don’t dismiss small efforts to do the right thing in the middle of a wave of destruction. Your words, your attitudes, and behavior can start something new and something healing. It’s really up to you.
Let’s Pray: Gracious and loving God, restore us to being a people whose lives reflect the compassion and deep love of Jesus. Amen.
