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I am fascinated by little events that turn out to be catalysts to great change.
I often see it in literature. Oliver Twist pulls the long straw, which starts his adventure. Ben Hur happens to be in the wrong place when the stone falls. Robertson Davies wrote a trilogy based on hurled snowball, intended for “A”, hitting “B” and changing the history of a whole group of people. I haven’t read all the Harry Potter books, but there are hints Harry’s sparing of somebody in book #4 will come around to his favor.
A very good book (I recommend it heartedly) is the Dream of Scipio. The 3 main characters, each in a bad time of human history, choose things that at the time seems personal, unimportant, and of no significance. Yet, each decision (unbeknownst to them) changes history via a ripple effect. One of the men, during the bubonic plague, rescues one Jewish woman rather than ‘seeing the broad picture’. This deed dominoes to the reigning pope, who eventually writes a bull, telling plague stricken Europe to stop persecuting the Jews - they are not causing the plaque. So whole group of people are spared afterall.
Where am I going with this? It is remarkable to consider what little things I may have done in life I don’t think important (or even recall) that may have changed lives. Once in a while I am greeted by some ex-patient. Often I don’t recall them. They sometimes tell me “you know you changed my life, 10 years ago’. They remind me of something I said, some comment that caused a revelation and life change. What I said to them turns out to be always something I don’t recall saying, or at least not consciously saying for such effect. I say to myself “I recall that, but it was merely an off hand remark!” Yet, it was this that made all the difference. And I would never have known but for a random encounter years later.
It makes me more conscious of all I say and do on a daily basis. What little act of kindness (or lack thereof) may alter a person today? And will a small act or comment cause someone to change course, who will thus alter others, and perhaps the world?
It is a bit chilling.
