Leaving Your Mark (Amy Swenson)

Early in the morning, when the dew is still on the ground, and you walk along a sidewalk, you might notice shiny thin streaks cutting across the concrete. They might seem like cracks at first, or some sort of sealant that the city has come to put down. But in fact, they are the trails of slime (maybe not the scientific word) left by snails. As they move around early in the morning, they leave behind this residue that shows me exactly where they’ve been. It may be erratic and inconsistent; it may be a somewhat straight line or some circular paths. But the fact of the matter is, even after the snail is gone, I know exactly where it’s been. It’s left its mark.

I believe, for the most part we as humans, also desire to leave our mark.

We speak about being careful not to leave too much of an environmental footprint. We speak of how much waste we create, how many resources we use up, and how we can conserve these things—reduce, reuse and recycle. In this day and age, we are more concerned than ever about what kind of mark we leave on the environment.

That’s one kind of mark, but I’m speaking in different terms here. What about the mark you leave with and on other people? I truly believe that I am formed and shaped in this life by the people I meet, no matter for how long you know them. You may just cross paths with them briefly, meeting as an acquaintance. You may walk together on the journey of life for a short time. Or you may have a long-standing relationship with them. However long you might know someone, they have an effect on you, and you have an effect on them. How will you choose to affect others?

Those snails remind me that our marks aren’t always as visible as what a snail leaves. People will forget about your interaction with them and you will also forget about some. Sometimes an interaction will mean more to one person than the other. But we hope to make an impression on people. Sometimes it’s very purposeful and sometimes it’s more subconscious.

As I continue on the experience here in South Africa, I am grateful for all of the people that I’ve met, interacted with, worshipped with, met with, cooked with, sang with, prayed with, struggled with, walked with, and talked with. They have already shaped a part of me. And I know that they will continue to affect me in so many ways throughout life. I only hope that I have been able to do the same for some people here.

The same goes for back home. Despite the distance, people from home continue to shape and impact my life, and I hope I can do the same for them, in some sense.

I think of the saying that refers to leaving “footprints on your heart”.

Think of the impact one person can have on the world. I saw a special highlighting the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact he had on so many people. Here in South Africa, I am constantly reminded of Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and so many more that have made such a difference here. I look up to and respect these people, leaders in our world who have dedicated their lives to changing things they see that are not right.

Sometimes, though, I think that I will never have an impact like that. I won’t be that person who will change the world. But it’s at those times, that I remember the quote: “To the world, you may just be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.” We all make an impact in ways we don’t even realize.

This brings me to the text in Hebrew 12 that reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down and the right hand of the throne of God.”

Who is in your cloud of witnesses? In chapter eleven, just before this passage, we are reminded of the great faith of our faith fathers and mothers (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, Rahab, and so many more). We are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses…those that have come before us on this journey of faith. And we all have our own witnesses in that regard—grandmothers and grandfathers, neighbors and parents and parental figures, elders, pastors and mentors. We are also surrounded by our clouds today—people in our lives who cheer us on, who are there through the good times and the bad, people who help pick us up when we are down. For me, this cloud is made up of people from all age ranges, from all over the world, and from all walks of life. I am so very blessed to have this cloud surround me.

At the same time, one thing we might not always think of is that while we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, we ARE a part of any number of clouds for other people. We also play the role of cheerleader, encourager, and supporter for others who consider us to be in their cloud of witnesses. Sometimes you don’t even realize who all you’ve supported in this way. Your few words or small actions may mean the world to someone, who considers you to be in their cloud of witnesses. You never know what kind of an impact you might be having…and in some cases, you may never know.

Just like those snails that leave their mark, I hope that I am carrying out God’s call that we are “blessed to be a blessing.” I hope that in some way, in this life, I am able to be a blessing to others…that I am able to leave my mark--my footprints--on people’s hearts and make a difference in some lives. How will you leave your mark today?

Amy Swenson is an ELCA-MUD volunteer serving in Pretoria.