Delicate Wings–Determined Purpose

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

 

Anyone else  noticing more butterflies these days?  They seem to be all over the place, at least here in Southern California. Must be their time of year.

 

It reminds me of something.

 

Have you ever heard of the “Butterfly Effect?”

 

It is a theory which states when a butterfly flaps its wings, it moves tiny particles of air…that move tiny particles of air…that move tiny particles of air that eventually could cause a hurricane on the other side of the world.

 

In the 60’s, a scientist by the name of Edward Lorenz developed this theory and coined the phrase when needing to explain it to other scientists.  He was rejected for his theory.  Then in the 90’s, a host of other physicists went to work to prove/disprove his findings and they discovered he wasn’t mad at all.  The theory was proven.  A butterfly’s wing does begin a continuum of air movement that is far reaching.  In fact, the theory is about moving-matter in general.  They came up with a long and scientific title for it, but the vernacular remained…The Butterfly Effect.

 

Andy Andrews wrote a book in 2010 about all of this, titled…The Butterfly Effect-How Your Life Matters.  In it, he put some thoughts to words in this way:

 

“Every single thing you do matters.  You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world.”

 

And Elaine Tietz stood up on a stage a few years ago and told a group of women about Andy Andrews book and this effect. She explained of sharing of her faith and how others along the way were affected by her simple acts.  I was in the audience that day.

 

And now you are reading my post, telling YOU all about it.

 

Do you think the theory of the Butterfly Effect is real?

 

You see, each and every day you and I flap our little wings and move air that moves other air.

 

Each and every day we speak to someone, write to someone, share with someone—words and actions and feelings that push air.  What we do right now will continue on its path forever.  Decisions we make–good or bad–will impact someone else. The words we choose to speak to our children.  The actions we choose to deal with our spouse. The interactions we have with a stranger…all are movements of air that move their air.

 

The question is—how are we moving that air?

 

Are we flapping mindlessly and without cause?  Or are we enriching those around us?  And more importantly are we being the children of God and acting like it?  Are we spreading His Kingdom?

 

Isaiah wrote:

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 55:11 NIV

 

What if we lived our lives remembering this verse every single moment of the day? What would our impact on this world look like?  How would those around us grow in their lives?

 

Our words, matter.

 

Our actions, matter.

 

Our decisions, matter.

 

We push air every second of the day which impact others, which impact others, which imp…

 

Not only for today, but for a lifetime.

 

As Mr. Andrews reminds us in his book, we have been created as one of a kind. But we already know that.  Don’t we?

 

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

 

God made you for a reason.

 

He made us to push the air…for Him.

 

I pray that we all start living this way.

 

The other side of the world is waiting for us!

 

(I created a link to a short video from YouTube of Andy Andrews speaking. Just hover your curser over his name and click on the link.  It may be the most influential 9 minutes of your life.  And the book’s title has a similar link if you want to find the book on Amazon.)