oday, I’m thinking about our lives as examples for others. Most of us don’t feel worthy of being examples. Most of us see only our own mistakes. Whether or not we are aware of it, in reality, we are examples for others.

One recent Saturday morning, our friends, Ian and Sandi, invited us over. “Could you come this afternoon for a swim in the pool and hamburgers on the barbecue?”

“We’d be delighted,” I responded. “I’ll bring dessert.” I heard Sandi cheer in the background. Thus began our little adventure. The day was blistering hot. Together, we soaked in God’s beautiful world. We hung out in Ian and Sandi’s pool, around their garden and shared a meal. St. Paul said we are all given God’s gifts. Our job is to use them as blessings for others. Among so much more, Ian and Sandi gave us the gift of hospitality. Sharing it with us appeared to be just a friendly last-minute invitation. For Tom and me, it was so much more.

In sharing their time, their home and their friendship, Ian and Sandi gave us an opportunity to set aside our need to “get things done.” We were on the treadmill.  They broke the spell, gave us rest and renewal. I’m sure at that moment, our friends weren’t conscious of being living examples of God’s love, but they were.

As we live, running errands, going to work, enjoying time out with friends, we are always providing others examples of something. A few weeks ago, my adult grandson, Chris, told me something important. Chris started up a landscaping company, lots of hard work and long hours, four years ago. He told me about his business practices.

“I don’t work weekends,” Chris said casually. “Saturdays, I hang out with Riley.” (his four-year-old son) “We do lego, or play games, or whatever. We have time together.”

Think about those four short sentences. Chris is setting a wonderful example for his son, for me, for his customers, for young fathers everywhere. Every week, he makes precious, life-long memories for Riley of time spent together. Each week, they are both living examples of God’s love.

Today, I had a task to do. Chris’ four short sentences inspired me. Besides writing this article, I needed to write something poetic for “Words on a Wire,” an upcoming art exhibit in which visual artists display their works. Beside each painting will be a piece of poetry or prose that members of my writers’ group have created in response to the painting. Poetry is not my genre of choice. My assigned painting portrays a back view of a man and a little boy, possibly four or five years old, walking on a beach, carrying a pail between them. The man carries a fishing pole. Here is what I have written:

Come Follow Me

Let’s hang out together,

Let’s feel the sand squish between our toes,

the water, caress our feet.

We’ll share love; we’ll learn about living.

Together, let’s enjoy the adventure of life.

I’ll do my best to lead you well.

Together, we’ll create precious memories.

Come follow me.

And with this poem I began to examine my life. What kind of example is my life for those around me? What do my actions and words teach others? What effect could my choice of coffee have on my friends, on farmers in far off countries? I ask you to think about the words of greeting you habitually use at the dollar store, the coffee shop, the gym. How can they affect others? We can spread God’s love for every human being through our own examples every day.  Living examples of Jesus’ come to us in large and small ways. Who has been an example for you during your life time? How can we intentionally be an example for others?

“Words on a Wire” is one event in the weeklong Northumberland Festival of the Arts, held this week September 13-22 in towns throughout Northumberland Country. Check it out online. Come to some or all of the events. Immerse yourself in the arts. Soak them up. You will be mightily blessed.