In your spare time, Google “how to impact the world.” You’ll see a list of sites dedicated to teaching and breaking down the behaviors of great leaders among us. In fact, I just clicked the first website that google found to be most relevant to the search. (obviously, google knows everything!) The link actually took me to a site with the title, “9 core behaviors of people who positively impact the world.”
I thought about the one person who impacted my life the most…my mom. The weird thing is that out of the 9 core behaviors written on this article which google found, my mom didn’t meet any of the criteria. Words like “inexhaustible drive, risk taking, influential, pushing the boundaries, charismatic” flooded the page, and for some reason, it didn’t quite fit the behavior, character and make up of who my mom is…weird.
I then remember that one night, when Maria and I went on a date night and my mom came over to watch Isaac (our son). We usually get home late (we are party animals), so my mom usually puts him down to sleep and just sleeps over in our guest room.
Coming home late, we fell asleep right away with the baby monitor next to our bed, listening to the sound of Isaac’s rhythmic breathing and the occasional shuffling of his blankie. Later that night, Maria heard some additional noise on the monitor… she slowly got out of bed and peaked in his room around 2:30 am to check and see if everything was ok. And there she was, at the foot of his bed, on her knees, her hands raised high, her eyes closed, her face to the heavens… praying for my son.
So, how do you impact the world? Be like my mom. Live with a heart that’s bigger than everyone else’s around you. Love more than a normal person can love. Fervently pray for those around you with all your strength, even if it’s 2:30am in the morning. Then you will impact those around you and they will impact those around them…and those around them, will impact the world.
Well Google, it’s time to rewrite your algorithm on the search phrase “how to impact the world.” Maybe even add a picture of my mom to the most relevant image search too… just saying.
Hanju Lee brings the heart of Newsong everywhere he goes, including next week as a supervisor/fun factor on the NSY Retreat. If you have a student in your house, don’t let them miss their chance to be part of it – register now at newsong.net/summer-camp
