People are inspired and influenced by all kinds of things.  What has a profound and influential effect on one person, may mean little or nothing to another?  What influences a person and motivates them to make a better world?  The same question could equally be posed, what inspires people to do evil?

From a young age and throughout our lives, what inspires and influences us, often defines, what a person becomes.  Some see their father or mother, their friends, work colleagues, sports figures, music figures, even religious figures, as an inspiration.  Whether you become a Hitler or a Stalin or a Mother Theresa or Mahatma Gandhi, appears to be a question of what has influenced you through your life.

Of course, there are individuals, communities, groups, etc who are apparently so self-confident, that they do not copy or live in anyone else’s shadow.  Many of these people tend to be loners, preferring to do things under their own steam, not wishing to burden anyone.  While there are others, sadly, who achieve little if anything at all, often because they were told, they would never amount, to anything.  And some who were told by their parents or teachers, that they, would never achieve anything in life, has bucked this trend.  These people have gone on to be famous in their chosen field of industry.  Examples of such people would be Sir David Attenborough, Sir Richard Branson and Boy George, et al.

Often, inspiration comes about because someone, somewhere, spots talent or a gift, in someone.   That talent or gift is nurtured like a seed and encouraged to grow and achieve its full potential.

Some of the most influential people in the UK today (no doubt reflecting our fascination with celebrity culture) are according to ‘GQ’ magazine:

 

Emily Maitliss, presenter, ‘Newsnight’, 49.

Ed Sheeran, musician, 28.

Victoria Siddall, global director, Freeze Frame, 42.

Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter, 49.

Carole Cadwalader, journalist, 50.

Stormzy, musician, 26.

David Beckham, philanthropist and businessman, 44.

Lucy Bronze, footballer, 28.

 

Some folk make idols of people who inspire them.  This idolatry can lead to an identity crisis, where we lose sight of who we truly are.

For Christians, Jesus is our main inspiration, not just for spirituality, but, also, in the practical areas of our lives.  Nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus, the unique founder of the Christian faith, changed history forever.  Unlike Buddha, Mohammed, etc, Jesus, was not merely some holy man, but, the very embodiment of God himself, who had come to reconcile people to God.  The way Christ lived his life and his death, his resurrection and his promise to return, plus an afterlife, is the personification of everything that inspires the largest faith community in the world to this day, Christianity.

If you would like to be truly inspired, please read about the life of Christ and his disciples, found in the gospels and letters in the New Testament.

So with this beautiful inspiration of Jesus, here are some scriptures for your reflection:

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth”

Luke 12:12 “For the Holy Spirit, will teach you, what to say”.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”.

God bless you xxx.

Nick.