People notice more than you think, just ask my barista …

When heading out this morning, I stopped at my local Starbucks to pick up a coffee to go. I know everyone who works there, and on my way out one of the baristas called me over.

He had something he really wanted to tell me.

It was a surprising story.

He said yesterday a woman saw me leaving the store and asked him if I come there often.

“Oh yeah, he’s a regular here,” he told her.

She then told him the story of how, about a year ago, she was standing in line behind me and happened to observe me doing a good deed for a young boy who was in line ahead of me. Apparently, the deed impressed the woman, enough to tell the story to the barista … a year later.

I was completely oblivious that anyone had been standing behind me or observing my actions that day, and had long forgotten about the incident. I don’t know the woman who spoke to the barista, we’ve never met or interacted. But she had observed my behavior closely and it apparently had a lasting impact on her … I’m grateful it was for good!

I tell this only to highlight a simple reality: People notice more about us than we often think or have any awareness of. Our behavior in any setting can make an impression for good or bad, depending on the kind of impression we leave.

God cares about the impressions we leave behind.

“You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father,” Matthew 5:14-16.

My actions that day a year or so ago weren’t done purposely to be a positive example, I didn’t know I was being watched so closely! But it shouldn’t just be the occasional, intentional “random acts of kindness” that positively impact people around us. Rather, we should demonstrate a Christlike character so that the consistent flow of our actions can be a source of positive impression on anyone who watches how we live.

What kind of impressions are you leaving behind?

Scotty