How can I influence others?

 I asked Hannah what she had learned while at Beach Blast this summer. 
"How to influence people", she said. 
That certainly perked my interest and we began discussing what that would look like; how it would play out in our day to day lives.  If I would have the power to affect others, I must be deliberate, engaging them by my actions.  I won't be an influence if I ignore others.  I won't be an influence if I am too busy to look at them or too preoccupied to notice them.

Later that week, I had an a return appointment at the Breast Care Center.  Because of a spot that showed up on my mammogram,  they wanted me to come in again for more pictures.  I was a little concerned, but trusted that everything would be OK, and it was.  But, that night, as I sat there in bed thinking about all that had happened, I realized that I had missed a golden opportunity to be an influence for others.  I could have said a prayer for someone that day.  There may have been some other woman in the waiting room, who did not get a good report. But, I never looked to see.  I showed up for my appointment with a book to read and I really never looked at the other women.  I had spent the whole 90 minutes reading.  Sitting there in my bed, I felt so selfish, I felt as though I had missed out on a blessing because I had been totally focused on me and my life.  I felt so ashamed.
"What kind of Christian am I?"
 God could had used me if I had been sensitive to his Holy Spirit. 
"Forgive me, Lord,"  I prayed, "I'm listening now, and I want to do better".

What he is teaching me is, that I should be praying for everyone whose path crosses mine; not only the women in the waiting room at the Breast Care Center, but, the staff that works there, the girl who cuts my hair, the businessman that walks into our office, and the checkout lady at the grocery store.  I encounter people all day long; a thing which should never be taken lightly.  God would have me really look and see those around me.  How do I do that?  Well, I can't, but, by his Holy Spirit I can be given new eyes to see the sick, the lonely, the troubled, the weary, the lost.  And if I see, then I can pray, and maybe I can even be an influence.