Leaf in the Sidewalk

Walking along a sidewalk, I noticed the impression of an elm leaf in the concrete. It is a perfect impression. Every vein in the leaf is visible, as is the stem. And by its shape it is clear that it is the leaf of an elm tree. The sidewalk does not appear to be new. In fact, there are chips on the edges and divots in the concrete indicating its been there for many seasons. A concrete sidewalk is expected to last a long time – many decades and perhaps even longer than a lifetime.

As I walked, I thought about the little leaf that left its impression in that carefully laid sidewalk. No doubt the contractor who poured the concrete first prepared the ground and then set forms to hold the concrete. When the sidewalk was finally poured, the wooden forms would have been left in place for a day or longer so that the concrete could set up. I wonder what the contractor thought when he or she returned to the site to remove the forms and found the perfectly laid concrete had a leaf stuck in it.

That little leaf was unique, unlike any other leaf that was ever formed. It fell from the tree – when it was dying, probably in the fall -- and landed, through no power of its own, right in the newly poured and still-wet concrete. And there it stayed, making an impression that would last for decades.

The leaf has long since turned to dust. Leaves simply do not last much longer than a season. When we rake leaves in the fall, they are still substantial, and sometimes a pile of leaves is surprisingly heavy to tote to a compost bin or into disposal bags, but as leaves dry, they crumble and no longer have the substance and form to leave an impression at all. It is not long before leaves become just dusty debris to be swept away by winds or a broom.

But that one little leaf impression remains in the concrete. It could not have been intentional about landing there, and perhaps the contractor was not happy to see it, as the leaf destroyed the pristine surface of the new concrete, which the contractor knew was designed for permanence. And now, its impression will perhaps outlast several lifetimes. It won’t last forever, as nothing on this Earth is eternal, but unless there is reason to have the sidewalk removed, it’s there for years to come.

That leaf, which perhaps upset the contractor, caused me to think about the impression I make. Unlike that leaf, I have the ability to thoughtfully and intentionally decide where I “land,” as well as what kind of impression I want to make. Of course, that does not mean I can control what others think about me, but I can decide what I want to say and do.

I want to leave a lasting impression. Not of myself. And not a handprint in concrete. What I want is for others to see God through me. I want my life to leave a decades-long impression on those who know me. Certainly on my family, but also on others – friends, as well as people I encounter in my everyday life. It’s not important that they know who I am, or even my name. What’s important is that they see kindness, courtesy, gratitude and God’s love shining through me.

What kind of an impression are you making on others? And will your impression be “visible” to others after your body has become dust?

Prayer:

Creator God, please help me as I walk through my day to listen to your voice and be intentional in my actions and words, as I do not know when I am making an “impression” on someone else. I want others to see you living in me. And I want that image of you to be forever in my heart and also long-lasting in the hearts of those around me.