When we had some down time a few weeks ago, we watched a Mr Bean movie with the kids. For those of you that might be unfamiliar with Mr Bean, he is a British actor that stars in slapstick comedy movies. He doesn’t speak very much during the movie- he mainly grunts and verbalizes a few words. He usually lands himself in some kind of comical situation that transcends language and leaves you in stitches.
In this particular movie, Mr Bean was on a quest to find the beach in France. His journey included a train ride across Europe and hi-jinx ensue. He eats raw oysters and slips some into the purse of the lady next to him. He boards the train and inadvertently separates a father and son. At the next stop, he loses his passport and wallet. He tries to follow a map and ends up crossing through traffic, going the wrong way, and creates shortcuts where they shouldn’t be. The movie ends with the father and son being reunited but there is a path of chaos along the way.
Mr Bean is completely clueless of the chaos that he leaves behind after he leaves a place. He has no idea of the cars that wrecked while swerving to miss him as he walked through the middle of traffic. He walks onto a movie set and causes an explosion that sends someone to the hospital while ruining the movie. The entire movie is made up of these little mishaps that make you cringe in your seat. It really got me thinking- I hope that I don’t walk through life as clueless as Mr Bean. I don’t want to walk through life leaving a trail of chaos behind me.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:13 to “Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” The whole chapter encourages Christians to live a happy, healthy whole life. Walk in love. Don’t be impure. Don’t use foolish talk. Don’t be drunk but be filled with the Spirit- encouraging one another with your speech. Basically, when you go somewhere or talk to someone, leave them better than they were when you got there. Encourage them. Love them. Be Christ like to them.
The best way to make a positive impact at work, at school, at the gym or at the store is to be Christ like, not Bean-like. Don’t leave people picking up the pieces after your interactions. Don’t leave a mess behind you. Leave a trail of kindness behind you, not chaos.
~Shiney
