The One Where I left My Mark

‘You might want to look in the mirror.’ My mind raced as I tried to understand what she was saying to me and as I looked frantically around I noticed the ink on my fingers and the penny dropped (or you could say, the ink-stained!)

We have a new printer/copier at church and I had spent some time setting it up. The first instruction in installing the toner cartridge was to remove the piece of plastic from the back of it. The problem with this was that the plastic was covering a roller that was covered in toner and so it then was quite a messy process to install the cartridge. The good news is that now that I understand how the cartridge fits it will be less messy next time, but on this occasion the main thing that I was glad that I only had ink on my hands, or so I thought.

Emily was in the church running a group and I had just shown her the new printer. We had been chatting for several minutes when she said ‘you might want to look in the mirror.’

When I did look in the mirror it wasn’t too bad, but nevertheless the ink had left its mark on my face.

I had been thinking recently about fingerprints (no, I haven’t been taken to any police stations) and the way that each one is unique despite there being billions of us on the planet. When I leave my fingerprints (as I did on my forehead today) I am leaving a pattern that no one else can make. Making my mark in this way is something that only I can do.

All this led me to ponder how I am leaving my mark in life. What difference do I make in the places where I am and to the people who I am with?

For me as a Christian, it also goes beyond that though. I have to ask what difference is God making in the places where I am and to the people who I am with either through me or in spite of me? Am I open to the Holy Spirit working in and through me or do I just want to do my own thing?

I want my life to count and I want to make a difference, but more than that I want people to experience God, to see who he is and to experience him at work.

God, may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.