Stated Clerk's Column
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About This Column
Written by Gradye Parsons
Each month the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Moderator or Vice Moderator of the 220th General Assembly write a column of general interest for the church-at-large.
Recent posts
- June 2016 - A journey of faith—Gradye Parsons
- May 2016 - A distinct family portrait of the PC(USA)
- April 2016 - Pack your mission T
- March 2016 - The hard work of reconciliation
- February 2016 - Sustainable ministry results from sustainable souls
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October 2015 - Use your influence
As I write this the airplane carrying Pope Francis is probably in its final approach into Rome. In the United States it is Monday, with all of the start-of-the-week chores waiting for us. The analysis of the impact of the Pope’s visit continues. It continues in the media and in the minds of the people who heard him speak or enjoyed an individual encounter. The Pope used his influence to talk about many of the important issues of the day. Immigration, climate change, and the death penalty were directly addressed, just to name a few.
Influence is something we attribute to those who are well-known. People attain status and then some use that status to influence public thinking and politics to achieve some goal. In the Old Testament, Queen Esther is approached by Mordecai through Hathak to use her new influence as Queen to spare the Jews from slaughter. To approach the king as Mordecai wished would be to risk her own life. Yet Esther does just that to use her influence to save her people.
What influence do we have to accomplish anything? Who cares what we think outside of those annoying pollsters on the phone or the endless surveys we are asked to take. I think about the widow whose two-mite gift influenced the Least Coin offering all over the world. I think about the little boy whose sack of bread and fish launched a billion sermons.
Who influences you every day? There is the woman at my dry cleaners who always asks me about my grandson. There is the staff at my coffee shop who make my coffee before I hit the counter and discuss what kind of day I am going to have. There is the attendant in the parking garage whose smile can erase any commuting troubles.
You don’t have to be a celebrity to have influence. We all influence the people around us every day. We can leave a trail of people whose day gets better because we lifted them up a little. For people of faith it can even be seen as holy work. Let our ministry begin.
- Posted at 12:01 p.m.
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