Ripples

During my service year, I was privileged to be posted to a place that had a body of water. I enjoyed going there. I really did. In the evenings, as I walked in the vicinity, I felt a calmness of mind that almost defied reason. There were times I went there to be alone with God; listening to Him and pouring out my grievances and heart cries. There were times I went there to clear my head and enjoy my own company. There were times I went there to shout, cry and scream. Other times though, I just went there to walk and look at the water. 🙂

Now, there was a place I would stand from which I could see the water stretch out like a carpet. Boy did I love standing there. As I write this, I realise that I miss those moments. Well, let’s move on before I start writing about my service year experience (That could be a story for another day). Now, whenever someone throws an object into the water, there is usually an initial point of impact. However, the disruption does not stop there, it continues and forms a number of concentric circles (an example is the featured image above). Although the contact was at one place, the impact went beyond that place.

You are wondering how all that I am saying is important to you. Right? Well, I believe the experiences I will share would help highlight its relevance to you, leave an indelible mark in your heart and spur you to action.

Some years back at Bowen University Iwo, I began discipleship classes. We used the Baptist discipleship materials in our lessons. My first teacher was Fadekemi Aderemi Kupoluyi. She was a nice teacher and a great Christian but what touched me most was the fact that she took interest in us as individuals not just as students. Our friendship went beyond the classroom. I remember one particular occasion when she called me to the library. She asked about my friends, studies and general wellbeing. It might seem routine to someone else, but to me it meant a lot. She graduated that session but she has kept in touch since then.

The next teacher I had was Busola Adebanjo. She taught us “Serve the Master”. If there is one thing I remember about her, it is the fact that she was always smiling! Always! She took great interest in us and invested her time and energy into ensuring that we become more like Christ. Finally, the last teacher I would talk about is Oyindamola Taiwo. She was an energetic teacher and she helped us understand more about Christ. However, there is one thing that she encouraged to do. That one thing changed my life. Towards the end of our “Master Life” class, she pleaded that each of us should ensure that we teach at least one discipleship class.

To be honest, the idea never crossed my mind. Me…Iremide… Teach? What do I want to say? To cut the story short, we were 10 in that class and 9 of us taught discipleship classes. I said that the decision changed my life. You wonder how. Afterwards, I was privileged to be a part of other discipleship classes because of her encouragement and it was from those discipleship classes that I had the privilege to learn, impact lives and grow in Christ.

In my little way, I ensured that I took a personal interest in everyone in the class (following the example of Sis. Fadeke). Also, I tried and I still try to always put on a smile (Like Sis. Busola) even though I fail at times. In my own little way too, I encourage everyone in class to teach (Like Sis. Oyin).

Now, back to “Ripples”. Don’t worry, this is the point where I tie the loose ends and conclude. To the three teachers I have written about, I was just one of their students. However, they impacted my life as well as the lives of the other great students in their class. In my own little way, I have tried to impact others too. Just like with a ripple, the contact was with one person but the impact has gone beyond that person. In the same way, Jesus had just 12 disciples, but today we have more than a billion people who profess Christianity. How did that happen? Well, it happened by each disciple touching another person’s life. That person who had been touched went ahead and impacts another person. The person who was impacted by the person who was touched goes ahead and inspires another person .. And the person who was …*smiles*. I think you get the point.

The encouragement to us as believers is that we should touch the lives of others for Christ. We have no idea how many lives are depending on the lives of others. I hope you got the lesson? Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend! Please feel free to share your experiences of people who have impacted your life.