The Butterfly Effect...

In science, mathematics, and popular culture, there is a concept known as "the butterfly effect," the idea being that something as small the movement of a butterfly's wings "might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado or delay, accelerate or even prevent the occurrence of a tornado in a certain location."



I've thought about that concept ever since reading about it with my 8th grade Sunday School class several days ago. With good reason...it's been a roller coaster of a week.

My days are generally VERY busy, but pretty consistent. I don't often have to deal with major ups and downs--emotional, physical, relational, or otherwise. This week was different.

It started Saturday with a 55-year-old woman from our church having a sudden and massive heart attack. If you'd looked around the church benches the week before, this is one of the last people you would have ever guessed was on the verge of death. She was extremely active, very involved in church work, and one of the first people you'd think of when you think of people from church. Although her death was far more than a mere butterfly wing, the tidal wave of consequences will be felt by many, many people for a very long time. I had the unfortunate experience of getting to tell my neighbor that this woman was dying. I left the conversation second-guessing myself... Could this really be? How could it be? Did I just imagine it all? It's just another reminder that nothing in life on earth is guaranteed.

The second thing that happened this week involved a government official. I needed a piece of paper from a certain government agency...a paper that I should have received at the beginning of August. I called to check on my status and was treated poorly. Those butterfly wings--coming from a stranger--hurt. I was nothing but polite. I was doing nothing but trying to help out another person. And I was treated like dirt. It didn't feel good.

That day, I ended up having to speak to the same official three times. (Not my intent, but that's how it worked out.) By the last call she said she'd pull my file, "BUT DON'T CALL HERE AGAIN THIS WEEK!!!!!" Believe me, by that time I was too scared to ever call there again. I felt beaten, bruised and worn out.

Two days later, I was shocked by a return call from the same official. She'd processed my file and called to tell me the good news. I told her I was about to cry with happiness. She said gruffly, "Don't do THAT!" Then I expressed thanks on my behalf and on behalf of the other person she was helping. She said "no problem" and the phone call ended. Her butterfly wings--both the good and the bad--had a huge impact on my life and the lives of others.

The last one? I had a very odd and kinda scary interchange with someone on the internet that I don't know. Without going into detail, this was a business interaction. Without ever saying that anything was wrong previous to this, this person wrote me a very long, threatening email. She made huge demands and assumptions, all based on paranoid/false information. I immediately did exactly as she asked, realizing that this person was probably a little unstable. But it left me sad on two accounts... She assumed the worst about me (none of which was true) and accused me of things that I hadn't done. In doing so, she ended a business relationship that would have hugely benefited her family and her "cause." For me it really didn't make any long-term difference (I didn't need anything from her), but I was very sad to be accused of something that I didn't do.

It's been a rollercoaster of a week. And made me think long and hard about the far reaching effects of butterfly wings...

Will you do something nice for someone today? Something that you might not normally do? And post it here for me to read?

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!