The Highlander

 As I began my rookie training with the local Fire Department, I was reminded in a round about way of how much our lives impact the lives of others.  One of the things I was blessed with as I began my training was our wonderful textbook Essentials Of Firefighting And Department Operations.  This wonderful gift literally weighs about 20 pounds, give or take a few ounces!  It is loaded with all kinds of vital information that every firefighter NEEDS to know.  As we were going through our class on Firefighter Safety and Health, I came across a quote that struck a deep chord within me.  It was this, “Train as if your life depended on it–it does.”  No statement could be any truer, especially when it comes to firefighting, and all of the rigorous and repetitive traing that you go through.  This statement has affected the way I approach all of it; from working out and doing all of the physical training, to all of the mental and psychological aspects as well.

Yet, the more I pondered that statement and principle, I thought about another statement that is just as true, “Live as if the lives of others depended on it–they do.”  We have been placed in this world by Father to love Him and to love others.  It does not get any simpler than that.  Every single day, people are brought across our paths that He has placed there for us to love in some way.  It may simply be a kind word that they need or maybe some encouragement.  It could be that we have the chance to invest some time in their life or give them something that they may physically need.  It may just be that they need a listening ear.  It doesn’t matter that you don’t have all of the answers, just that you have the time to care enough to listen.

The deepest need of all of our hearts is to be loved.  Having that need met gives us all of the significance, meaning, and direction that we need to live a fulfilled and richly blessed life in this world.  The way that we live, the words that we speak, whether we like it or not, touches the lives of others.  That impact can be positive or negative and it could be one that lasts for a short time or for a lifetime.  People watch us and listen to us, especially if they know that we profess to walk with Christ.  I don’t say that in order to “guilt you” into living right.  That is just a fact.  We don’t need more rules and regulations or principles and steps, in order to live lives that make a difference.  We just need to live loved by Father.  As we receive His love for us, and it fills us up, it HAS to spill over into the lives of others.  We just cannot contain it.  We learn to live life as Eugene Peterson states in The Message, according to the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

If we will give ourselves over to the pursuit of being loved by God and loving Him, the impact of our lives on others will be for the eternal good.  So remember, live as if the lives of others depended on it–they do!

The Highlander