Not my words, but words featured in a PEANUTS cartoon. And if we’re all completely honest, there are times when we all come across people who, how can I put it tactfully, rub us up the wrong way. They are abrasive. They are negative. They are obnoxious.
So what do we do with them?
Love them.
Words at times refuse to be announced. They float in mid air awaiting capture whilst still in flight. They lie beneath the surface of the bubbling brook swimming patiently until they are fished out. They parade in the field anticipating the thrust of the rope around their neck as they are pulled in.
They appear in the mist, in the sunshine, in the haze, in the snow storm, in the smoke, in the smog and at any time they will land on the page before your very eyes. Without warning they will strike. Without introduction they will present.
But it is only those whom are aware of the habits of words who will translate the garble into a format that will influence their minds and the minds of others. For there is an ordering that must occur. There is a discipline that must be enforced if any sense is to be made out of the silent commotion that fills our world.
I remember hearing a story years ago of how the wind and the sun had a discussion one day about who could get a man, who was wearing a trench coat, to take it off the fastest.
The wind was adamant that he would be the winner on the day. So the sun stood back and allowed the wind to take the first attempt. Well the wind created such a fierce force that the man, wearing the coat, hung on to that coat with all his life and wouldn’t let go. The stronger the wind, the longer he held on until the wind finally gave up and retreated in defeat. The wind was firmly convinced that if he could not get the man to budge, with all the force that had been applied, that the sun had no chance of competing.
Then it was the sun’s turn. Out came those bright rays of warmth that make the flowers blossom and the grass grow, and it wasn’t too long before the man quickly took off his trench coat and walked down the road whistling a happy tune.
From my experience, some of the greatest influence that you can ever have on another life is by simply presenting yourself with a smile, extending a handshake, patting someone on the back, showing interest in another person, and basically seeking ways to spread a little sunshine.
Therein lies the affluence of influence.
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