My mind thinks about the strangest things sometimes. I was sitting at the mall, having lunch with a friend, when a lady walked by. She had extremely long hair. I immediately began thinking about how many of her hairs achieved unattached status each day. Next, I thought about the fact that her hair contains her DNA. If a crime occurred at the mall (or anywhere else, for that matter), the police could identify her from her hair and perhaps consider her a suspect.

How in the world did all this come from a lady walking near my table at the food court in the mall? Well, maybe I have an explanation. The evening before, while working late, I’d listened to a program that focused on several men who’d been released from various death rows around the country. Good attorneys had gone back and had evidence tested for DNA, some of it from 20 years ago. Tests were used that weren’t available at the time of the crimes and trials.

Do you realize that every time you lick a stamp you leave DNA from your saliva on the envelope? A single hair, a drop of blood can trip one up. The truth is, we can’t possibly go anywhere or do anything without leaving a trace of ourselves behind. I guess that’s a great motivator to do only good things, right?

Since leaving the mall, I’ve given quite a bit of time to thoughts about DNA. Not only physical DNA, but spiritual DNA. “Spiritual DNA”, you say? Yeah. For better or worse, we associate with people most of our waking hours. We influence them; they influence us. In other words, our personality, character, thoughts, words, rub off on people. They’re built up by their association with us; they’re torn down by their association with us. We leave them happier or sadder; encouraged or discouraged; built up or torn down; a little better or a little worse. Maybe not in huge increments, but changed, nonetheless!

How we affect other folks has a lot to do with our own personal relationship with Jesus. I believe His DNA rubs off on us. The closer we walk and talk with Him, the more of Him rubs off on us! He tells us that if we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. Think how much of Jesus rubbed off on the children who crawled up on His lap, the disciples who leaned on His chest, the woman who touched the hem of His garment.

• I can’t do anything about my physical DNA and the trail it leaves. It just happens!
• I CAN do something about my personal relationship with Jesus. Reading His word, spending time in prayer with Him…these things can allow Him to share His DNA with me!
• As I practice His presence in my life, I can effectively pass along the Jesus in me to those with whom I come in contact.

Finally, if I’m hauled into court and put on trial for being a Christian, there might be enough DNA evidence to convict me!

Your thoughts, ideas, reflections, responses are very important to me. Hit the “Jerry Meyer” button at the lower right corner of this page and E-mail. I WILL get back to you!

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