Lately, as anyone who follows me on Facebook knows, I’ve been swimming a lot. While I would love to say that my goal is the 2028 olympics, realistically, I am seeking to walk in obedient stewardship of my body, and tend to my mental health; swimming brings me great joy. Today, I was hard after a goal. After unsuccessfully trying to work on flip turns, I began swimming laps and getting in the zone. Pretty sure if I had tried one more floundering flip turn, the lovely old lady in the lane next to me would have called someone to rescue the girl who was clearly drowning herself!

When I finally stroked to the finish line of my 1500 meter goal, an imaginary sports commentator in my head yelled at the top of his lungs that Jewett was making her olympic debut by clenching a spot in the final and breaking a world record. No, none of that is remotely likely, and yes, you can cringe on my behalf. As I stood panting at the end of my lane, I became aware that someone was talking to me. A gentlemen a few lanes over had pushed up his goggles, the trademark sign that someone wants to talk to you. Apparently swimmers can’t use their mouths if their goggles are on. Trust me, it’s science.

Anyway.

This gentlemen went on to thank me for “finally taking a break”, because he’d been using me for motivation. He told me that he was struggling to get his laps in, and when he saw I was churning out laps, decided that he would keep going as long as I kept going. Little did he know I was going for a mile! In my breathless and I’m-about-to-pass-out-if-I-don’t-start-taking-deep-breaths state, I thanked him for the compliment, offered a tip on breaking up the monotony of laps, then swam a few extra laps once my breath had returned.

So what’s the goal of this story? It’s certainly not to talk about swimming, though I recognize I spent a chunk doing that. Can you tell I like the sport?

The point of this story is to talk about the influence we are on people without evening knowing it. I was an unintended influence to a complete stranger while, literally, staying in my own lane. There were no motivational Instagram posts involved, no medals won, no class taught, or sermon preached. The way I huffed and puffed back and forth through some water was a motivation to someone.

In this day and age, especially in the church, I think there is pressure to feel like we need to be a teacher, preacher, or some other title to be able to influence people for Christ. We see speakers, teachers, authors and christian social media influencers and wish we had their platform and ability to to teach the word and reach people for Christ.

Well, I argue that we have all we need already.

The early church didn’t have instagram. The early church didn’t have mass produced theology books. The early church (and Jesus, for that matter) had their voices, whatever letters they could right to each-other, and whatever teachers spoke at their local temple or synagog. Most importantly, they had the Holy Spirit. And the gospel spread like wildfire! People’s lives were completely transformed without ever once reading a Jen Wilkin book, or streaming a MacArthur sermon on Youtube.

As I think back on my life, I was most influenced by doing life with other Christians, and seeing them endure. Their faith and Holy Spirit empowered way of living helped me see that living this life was possible and if God helped them, He was probably able to help me too. I wonder what would change in the church if we stopped feeling like we had to attain a title before we started mentoring or discipling. I am in no way saying that we shouldn’t take advantage of good teaching, good books, and resources that may be available.

However.

We already have all we need through the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and our relationship with Jesus. Our lives are already a witness and example, whether that be a christ honoring or self honoring example. You already have an effect on those around you whether intended or not.

Thank you for attending my ted talk.

-M