er the cheers of encouragement, the words of motivation and inspiration directing you toward the stars, and the challenges of a mentor pushing you toward doors of opportunity and greatness; but some of the faces that flashed before your mind might be etched with critical voices that impacted you with negativism and harshness. Influence can come in several varieties and its impact can leave healing or wounds, excitement or contempt, loving respect or great disdain.My hope with this posting is to focus on the positive. If the initial question brought up some bad memories or faces that you would not like to think about much longer, I would like to give you permission to set those faces aside for another day. Today, I would like to focus on those positive people in life that have helped us to grow and mature in wisdom and action. So take some time to put some faces back in a gallery for another day, and add some individuals to this moment of remembering positive influences, exemplary behavior, role models lived out before you, and informal and formal mentors. Take as much time as you need. Grab a pen and pad of paper and jots some names down as they come to mind......
Ready to continue? If yes, let's go. If not take some more time to reflect.
Some of you may have a long list, as many people have invested in your life over the years. Some of you may have a shorter list but the people's names on your pad of paper (or in your minds eye) have overwhelmed you with support and encouragement. What is so amazing is how unique your list is to you. Some people on your list may have made the list of dozens, scores, and even hundreds of others. Influential people most often impact lots of individuals down through life. Others on your list may have influenced you in a way that is uniquely special.
If a coach is on your list, take a little time to reminiscence about the team, the fun of the sport, and the lessons learned through athletics. If a teacher made your group of influencers, try to recall the classroom, the things that made him/her so special and set him/her apart for the many other instructors you had over the years. Maybe a pastor or a Youth Group sponsor comes to mind. Take a few minutes and contemplate what brought them to your mind and gave them such a place of honor in your life. If a grandparent is smiling at you, reflect on her/his character qualities that impacted your life. If a peer or friend ranks high in your memories of positive impact, try to describe the kindred spirit that bound you together. Take some time and mentally recreate some of the moments of great impact in your life. Smile a little bit today and see some special faces and special places that inspired you - and hopefully still inspire you in this moment.
After you have spent a some time reflecting, I would urge your to do two things. First, consider writing a short note/email/text of appreciation to those who have poured themselves into you. There is no greater reward for an influencer than to know that they had an impact. Even if they will not remember you, they will be so encouraged to know of their ministry to you. One of my people of impact was my third grade teacher. I lost contact with her as a boy (she had moved away from my home town), but as an adult, with a little investigation, I found her and called her up. She did not remember me, but she seemed so grateful that I made the effort to thank her.
If they are no longer alive, consider communicating with someone else in their family - they would be thrilled to know of the impact that their father/mother/son/daughter had in your life. I remember the first time in my life that someone outside of the family told me that my father was such a great guy. I was only a small boy, but I remember how proud I was to be my dad' s son.
The second thing that I would like to suggest is yet another reflection time. Only this time, consider how many people would include your name on their list. We all might be surprised by the number of lists that would contain our names. Several people on my list (which is pretty small, by the way) would have no idea that they would be included. A few were, what I call, a secret mentor. I choose to emulate them, learn from them, and be mentored by them even though they had no idea. People may be watching you, too. If this reflection time leaves you a little wanting, there is still plenty of time and lots of opportunity to influence. Reach out.... encourage..... become someone's cheerleader, or coach, or confidant, or good friend. Live your life like someone is watching (because they are!)
Picture found at http://hearttoheart.wordpress.com/2007/12/29/remembering-my-first-mentor-sr-carol/
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