Changed People Change People

“When we love,

we always strive to become better than we are.

When we strive to become better than we are,

everything around us becomes better too.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

A few days ago, I started reading Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.

I am only a few dozen pages in and am already captivated.

An "alchemist" is someone who transforms things for the better.

"Alchemy" is the seemingly magical process of transformation,

turning something ordinary into something extraordinary.

I had to look those words up.

In Paul's Letter to the Romans, he said we are to

"be transformed by the renewing of our minds."

This verse has resonated with me for decades.

I've spent a lot of time with that passage in thought and prayer.

And this week, I made a connection and I considered a few familiar quotes.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi

"Everyone thinks of changing the world,

no one thinks of changing himself." Tolstoy

"Transformed people transform people." Rohr

This week, I will be speaking with a group of kids at a church youth camp.

I plan to share thoughts about what I've learned in my role as chaplain at the sheriff's office.

And the message I plan to share is this.

Our job is not to change people.

Our job is to be changed.

Because changed people change people.

In my experience, there is not really much that we have to do

to have a profound effect on people. It is more important that we be.

We should be looking, be listening, and be loving.

I think Jesus said it best

that we have just two commands: love God and love others.

And Paul closes the love chapter by saying,

"these three remain: faith, hope, and love,

but the greatest of these is love."

I would say we show this when we, "look, listen, and love."

When we look people in the eye or look to God, we are attentive.

When we listen to people or listen to God, we are silent and present.

When we love, we are taking part in the great alchemy of life,

the seemingly magical process of transformation,

turning something ordinary into something extraordinary,

in ourselves and in others.

So this week, may we strive to become better than we are.

Not by doing anything, but rather by being changed.

And may we seek only to change others by looking, listening, and loving.

Because changed people change people.