“Just Seven Seconds in 2018!”
December 21, 2017
Dale & Jeannie Daly
In the late 70’s and into the mid’ 80’s, I was blessed to serve at Calvary Community Church (CCC) in San Jose, CA under the exceptional leadership of Pastor Gerald & Peggy Fry. During one period of my time at CCC, Pastor Fry felt led to call Dr. Emil Balliet to be part of the church staff. The words that could be shared about Dr. Balliet would literally require a two-to three-inch book written with small type! As time nor space does not permit such a writing, I’ll shorten the words that could be said into a few brief, yet important sentences. Whenever Emil Balliet would enter a room, something almost akin to a “breath of a holy sense” would take place. Even if those in the room were not aware of him making a physical appearance, each person, in only what could be referred to as a supernatural way, knew that literally the “air” and “aroma” in the room had shifted. Emil Balliet need not enter with any verbal communication, nor did he enter with an attitude displayed as a “I’ve arrived” attitude. Rather, when he came into a room it was if all realized that there was a sweet fragrance of grace that had walked in. Dr. Emil Balliet always exuded allowing his personal enter light to shine.
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). As I thought about Dr. Balliet, and the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, the thought struck me, that this should be our goal; our desire; our determination; our ‘New Year’s resolution’ for our lives, in the New Year of 2018.
John Maxwell said one communication expert he was familiar with offers this fact: “You’ve got just seven seconds to make the right first impression on others. As soon as you make your entrance, you broadcast verbal and nonverbal signals that determine how others see you.” In-other-words, do you radiate confident, comfortable, sincere, glad to be there? “In that first seven seconds you shower your audience with subtle clues.” Maxwell continued; “Whether people realize it or not, they respond immediately to your facial expressions, gestures, stance, and energy. They react to your voice, the tone and pitch. Audiences, whether one or one hundred, instinctively size up your motives and attitudes. Your appearance, attitude, and approach make all the difference in the world.”
People can tell a lot in seven seconds! They may decide they don’t want to hear anything you have to say, or they may be struck by how much they’re drawn to you. Henry Ward Beecher said: “There are persons so radiant, so pleasant, so kind, so pleasure-bearing, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they will do you good, whose coming into a room is like bringing a shining lamp there.”
One pastor says, “I never realized how many nonverbal mistakes I was making until I saw myself on video. Now it’s my regular practice to go back and watch myself to determine not only what I said, but also how I said it. The tape doesn’t lie!” Great actors can tell a story without saying a word simply by using facial expressions. And whether you are aware of it or not, you convey a message by the expression on your face. Even people who pride themselves on ‘playing with a poker face,’ and on their ability to not let other people know what they are really thinking, convey an unspoken message of detachment.
Paul penned these words in 2 Cor. 3:18. The World Wide English New Testament Version, (WE) reads, “All of us have no cloth over our faces. People can see that we have some of the bright and wonderful light that the Lord has. And we are becoming brighter and brighter, more and more like him. It is the Lord, the Spirit, who does this.”
The company you keep has such an influence on your spiritual life. Being around people who are godly will help speed you on to victory, while hanging with those who are ungodly will drag you down to defeat! “You are the light of the world. A City set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Mt. 5:14).
Just perhaps you would agree with us, that together, we have an opportunity to make this our New Year’s resolution to let our light shine in 2018!
Merry Christmas & a very happy & blessed New Year from Jeannie and me!
Blessings,
Psalm 20:7
Dale & Jeannie
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