Sending Ripples Around the World
by Rachel Schepp
Since I was a young girl I remember hearing songs like, “Let there be peace on earth,” and “Joy to the world.” At that time, I did not really know the burden that the song writer must have been feeling when writing those songs. The impact of the world and its great need had never struck me, as it does now. I suppose it is natural that we would become more aware of the world around us as we grow older. But also, in the past few years, America has been exposed to the tragedy of September 11th in 2001, as well as Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. When I was younger, it does not seem that our country had to deal with tragedies of this weight. Furthermore, television news programs are exposing horrors at orphanages in Romania, and documentaries as well as movies are revealing the awful truth of African children being stolen from their homes and families and being forced to do forbidden acts such as killing against their will. This leaves me with questions. Now that I know, and have become aware, how can I go back to life as normal? Is there something I can do?
I am a happily married woman and mother of 4 children. My life has been a fairy tale in comparison to many women my age. I have a lot to be grateful for, and I very much am. I live in Rose Creek Village, where my home is in the hearts of people with whom I have become great friends over the past 16 years. As we have lived together, sharing in the burdens and sorrows as well as the immense joy of life, we have become a true family. Our life together has been a spiritual challenge to continue to learn what it means to love one another and to lay our lives down for each other daily. We are very grateful to God for Christ, His Son, who gave us a living example of what this means.
It is easy to become overwhelmed as we expose ourselves to the vast amount of pain and suffering that takes place in our world on a daily basis. As we see pictures of children with eyes that express the unthinkable trauma that they have experienced and realize the unimaginable visions that must haunt them every day, we wonder if there is any hope at all. We are feeling God calling us to look beyond the comfort of our home, our families, and our friends to hear, see, and feel the desperate cries of those that suffer in this world that we share. We feel Him calling us higher, away from our complaining attitudes and our ungrateful perspectives on life. We feel Him calling us to obey the small things that He continues to ask of us, but which we have ignored. We must obey; we must get ready; for He wants to make us useful. What an honor it is, that He would count us worthy to serve.
One of the great highlights of our VillageFest 2007 evening show was the “Ripples” performance. This was a group of 4 young adults giving a very dramatic expression of a poem called “A Pebble,” written by James W. Foley. The actors and actresses were clothed in shiny blue and silver costumes and theatrical make up, giving a remarkable performance in which they became the very expression of ripples of water. Together, they vividly showed the rippling effects that unkind words and deeds have on those around us and its spreading effects. Next they displayed the rippling effects of our kind words and deeds, showing how we can choose to spread cheer and kindness, the scattering effects of which bear hope, joy and comfort. The impact of this picture was awesome when you think of how a simple negative or positive comment or deed can make a difference from one person to the next, spreading to one generation after the next, even shaping one culture to the next and sending its rippling effect around the world.
Maybe, this is the answer to my previous question, “Now that I am aware, what can I do now?” As we together open our eyes to willingly look at the most disturbing images taking place around us and hear the cries of those who are alone and suffering, we choose to bear the great heartache of many in pain. Collectively we can shoulder this enormous burden. We must not become overwhelmed, for together we can make a difference. We have the power to bring the world sorrow or joy depending on the pebbles we drop and the circling effect that we create. We have the power to bring hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave, until you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave. Be conscious of the great needs around you, and allow this awareness to make a difference in the ripples you choose to send around the world.
Watch the VillageFest 2007 performance of “Ripples Around the World” — 16.1 mb Quicktime file
A Pebble
Drop a pebble in the water:
just a splash, and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water:
in a minute you forget,
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
and there’s ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You’ve disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you’ve started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute you forget;
But there’s little waves a-flowing,
and there’s ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
ere you dropped that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you forget;
But there’s gladness still a-swelling,
and there’s joy circling yet,
And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.
By James W. Foley
Posted on Nov 8, 12:58 PM | Categorized under Articles—
