A great holy man and prophet came to a city to tell all of its inhabitants about the wonderful love of God. In the beginning, many people came and listened attentively to his sermons. Filled with enthusiasm, the holy man continued speaking about God's love. People still listened for a while, but gradually, one by one, they drifted away. Eventually there was not a single one to hear the holy man when he spoke.

    One day a traveler who had paused to listen to the holy man said to him, "Why do you go on preaching, and with such enthusiasm too?

    The holy man replied, "In the beginning I hoped that I could change these people's cool hearts.  But now, I continue to speak, talk, preach and even shout, not to change their hearts so much. If I still speak, it is to prevent them from changing me!"

     Have you ever stopped to notice the people with whom you spend much of your time?  What influence do you think they are having over you? Have they changed your views, or the way you see yourself? Have your attitudes, disposition and convictions changed since you have first been with these people? What do you think?  Has the time you've spent with them been good for you or not so good?

      Have you ever stopped to consider how you may be influencing the lives of those with whom you spend a great deal of time?  Has the time that they have been with you been good for them or not so good? What do you think?

      We are all living "under the influence" of one another. Just what kind of influence is yet to be seen.