September 01, 2019

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Impact

Art has the amazing ability to impact viewers.  This impact can be revolutionary, enlightening,  a gentle reminder, absurdity, shock, or deeply emotional (as well as a host of other responses).  Achieving this can be accomplished in a number of ways.  The content of the work is often the greatest conduit. However, artists employee a host of other "tools" to create impact and leave a lasting impression on their audience.  Size, color, contrast, proportion, and so much more impact how work is perceived. I think of Color Field paintings which appear to be canvases of limited or even single color palettes, but evoke deep felt responses. This is often due to the sheer size of some of these works.  While other work my impact us because of connections we make with it to our own life.  No matter the reason, the impact of art is real & often personal. 


But Ruth replied, " Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16

I love the book of Ruth. It is such an amazing depiction of love, loyalty, and the power of personal impact. We are not given a great deal of information on the relationship Naomi had with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. However, we do know that Ruth is willing to give up everyone and everything she knows from her homeland to stay by Naomi's side. To me, this is the result of the personal impact Naomi had on Ruth's life. If you have not read the book of Ruth...take some time and do so. Not to give away the ending....but Ruth is the great great great great great great (I'm not really sure how many "greats" it is) grandmother of Jesus! So Naomi's relationship with Ruth had a direct impact on our faith journey as well!

How do you view your relationships? Family, friends, co-workers, or even strangers...what impact does your relationship with those around you have? Are you a gentle reminder? Are you shocking? Are you enlightening? Are you familiarity in a world that seems less familiar each day?  Are people drawn to you? Do they feel safe with you? Are they inspired by you? Will the impact you make on others' lives make a difference for the better?

Time to look in the mirror and ask yourself....

AM I MAKING AN IMPACT?
HOW AM I MAKING AN IMPACT?
CAN I MAKE A GREATER/DEEPER/RICHER IMPACT FOR GOD? 

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