April 25 Look For Contrails In The Sky And Behind Your Team.

Do you remember seeing the water stream of vapor behind some airplanes or rockets? They do not last forever and in fact their existence is very short. They do not add to the flight or experience for the passengers or crew. I do not think that the staff at the terminal are concerned about them in the slightest manner.

They are worthless to the airline company. But let us challenge that perspective of being worthless. I believe that the contrail is valuable to us on the ground as we look at them. We notice them when we are not traveling by plane. It is a reminder of when we traveled or when we might again.

It is a reminder that people are moving, that technology helps us, and that the world is smaller than it used to be. How often do you witness a plane flying in the air without a contrail? I think it is easier to notice a plane when it has left a contrail.

It might be especially true if it is one that has been expanded by the drifting winds or breezes. How is your business leaving a contrail? If it is not leaving a trail behind it, then it might be missing the opportunity to have your message impact others with little effort.

A bigger question is what personal contrail are you leaving behind for your employees and team members? Employers and leaders that leave a contrail are more likely to be noticed. They can leave a better legacy or witness, a better value.

Where might your efforts and energies not be contributing to your contrail? Who can help you shape it if it is not the way you want it to look? What will you do about it in the next seven days?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, we can be asking ourselves today, "What contrail am I leaving behind me?" It might be that I am sharing the word of God. I might be bringing people to Christ. I might is a great two word start to the answer of the contrail question.

So, am I or am I not leaving a trail? Are you or are you not leaving a contrail? Jesus left us quite a contrail to follow. We read in the Bible in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

It is important to leave a contrail that glorifies the Father. It can start with a focus on a Sabbath day of rest and worship. Preparing our hearts and minds to connect with God sets the stage and starts a contrail that can last for the balance of the week.

The start of that trail catches the eye and can keep Jesus at the top of our mind. When Jesus is at the top of our mind the opportunity to love even our enemies seems achievable. It can be just as transforming as the airplane engines are to the sky. With the plane we see clear sky, then a plane, and then a contrail.

With our focus on Christ, we can see hatred, then see ourselves obeying Christ, and then the effects of love will follow. Where might we work this week to improve how our activities glorify the Father? Is there anything more important than glorifying him?

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you are the pilot of the world. It is your creation, and we give thanks for our role in it. Help us we pray, to bring the attention to you, to glorify your love for us and those that follow Christ. May we this week pay attention to where we are headed and what our activities are.

May the effects of our path bring others to you. Use our contrails for your love and way, as we can be instruments in the world to reach others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,