Ripple effect
2009-08-28 - Nicky Nkabinde
What does community mean to you? Consider this, a ripple effect. A term used to describe a situation like the ever expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it. When a small pebble is dropped into a calm pool of water, it causes a ripple in every direction, even disturbing distant still waters. Another definition of a ripple effect is a spread of consequences orgradually spreading a series of effects or influences that are caused by a single event. You can be that single event that spreads a series of influences.
In Zulu there is a saying "Umuntu unguMuntu ngaBantu." This means that I am who I am because of you and vice versa. We as young people are called to change the world, ripple it for the better but it can only start with you.
Jesus said love God and love your neighbour, but love your neighbour to the same degree that you love yourself. Now I dont know about you but this morning I made sure that I washed, dressed and fed myself before l faced the day; whenever I stomp my toe against the corner of the bed l do whatever it takes to make the pain go away.This is exactly what that scripture means; dressing, feeding, nursing and taking care of others' needs with the same passion and effort as we would for ourselves.
Its pretty weird to think that giving is how you position to receive; meeting the needs of others is the way to have your needs met; the emptying of yourself into others will leave you fulfilled.
As our pastor always says, "your needs are more important than my needs"
Take into consideration the Parable of the Good Samaritan: A Jew (a regular dude) going on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, money and sneakers and beat him up and left him lying half dead beside the road. "By chance a priest (a pastor or cell leader) came along; and when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by (continued to Speak on his cellphone). A Temple-assistant (an usher or even someone on the dance team) walked over and looked at him lying there, but then went on. "But a despised Samaritan (someone who does not go to church or an outsider) came along, and when he saw him, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his donkey and walked along beside him till they came to an inn, where he nursed him through the night. The next day he handed the innkeeper two fifty-rand bills and told him to take care of the man. 'If his bill runs higher than that,' he said, 'I'll pay the difference the next time I am here.' "Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the beat up dude?" The man replied, "The one who showed him some pity." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same.
"Go start a ripple effect."
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