Are You Contagious??

You know what I think is one of the funniest phenomenons out there? How yawns are contagious. 

Why is that? 

The other day I was at work and someone across the room yawned, and I saw them out of my peripheral vision - not even in plain sight! - and I immediately began to yawn! How obnoxious, right?? 

Another thing I find interesting is how contagious smiles are, too. 

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the shade with a friend of mine, thinking of something (which I would rather keep you guessing at then outright tell you what it was) and I must have had a smile on my face. Because the next moment I looked up at him, and he was smiling, too. So, of course I asked him what he was smiling about. His reply was, "I don't know. I'm smiling because you're smiling." 

How does that work? Why is it that when someone smiles, you feel the need to smile, too? Or when someone yawns, your body feels the need to follow that example? 

As I was thinking about this, I found myself thinking about all the other things in life that are contagious. And I'm not talking just about Colds and Flus. 

Have you ever noticed how when someone around you is in a good mood, you find yourself in good spirits as well? 

Or when someone else is being generous, you want to be generous, too? 

Or when you are with someone that is calm, no matter how high energy you are, you find yourself calming just by their presence? (Okay, maybe that one is just me....) 

But seriously, I don't think we realize just how much our surroundings affect us. Or how we effect others. 

I think that is why God stresses it so much for us to spend our time around those that affect us in a positive manner - those who can encourage us and lift us up, rather than tear us down. 

It can be so hard to reflect God's character in this world, but that is what God is asking us to do. 

He is asking us to have contagious smiles, contagious generosity, contagiouscompassion...

.....and, above all, contagious LOVE. 

"I want you to show love more than I want you to offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." 
~ Hosea 6:6