The Bubble Truck

We were just headed to our church offices for a meeting, minding our own business, when a bubble truck lumbered by. Yup, that’s what I said, a bubble truck. I couldn’t quite catch the writing on the side to see the business’s name. I did see the driver—young-ish male, seemingly unconcerned he was leaving bubbles in his wake as he drove. Can you picture this? A black business truck that produces bubbles as the driver idles or proceeds through unsuspecting intersections. Highly unusual.

For longs moments after he’d passed us, we watched the bubbles drift, living on among the crowded intersection as various lanes were loosed by green traffic signals. He’d left a witness behind.

What kind of witness do you leave behind?

Do people have good things to say about you after you walk away? Do you yell at store clerks or gesture at other drivers?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because twice I’ve come across known Christian leaders (unrelated to my church) who’ve come across in negative, even dangerous ways. How do you come across?

Bubbles imply youthfulness. When was the last time you got out the wand and bottle of soap to make bubbles for someone else to chase, or just for fun? Yeah, it’s mostly a kid thing. But being a good witness isn’t about a certain age. We don’t get another chance to leave an impression once we leave. So, we need to be intentional about the impression we leave.

If you’re not already doing this, try being intentional about the impression you make and want to leave, both in social situations, with your family and friends, and in life.

Will your “bubbles” (read: impact) be resilient, lasting as people come and go, rising with the wind, unconcerned about people’s opinions or busy-ness? The bubbles from the bubble truck left an impression I won’t soon forget. They didn’t burst at the first sign of air currents. They rose and swirled and didn’t mind the mocking of some passers-by who couldn’t imagine the whimsy of the bubbles.

And they floated by while we watched and smiled.

When people see you, when they catch your witness, will they watch and smile?