I thought about this after hearing a comment one of my students made last spring. In one corner of my World Literature classroom, three ninth grade boys sat right next to each other. When they took those seats on the very first day of the school year, my eyebrows raised immediately, and they saw it. Can you handle it? I asked them. Yes, we promise! they answered. Don’t worry, I’m not naive enough to believe everything my students tell me; I have been doing this teaching thing for 17 years, after all! But because these were three generally well-behaved boys, I decided to give it a chance. Two of the three weren’t necessarily angels every single day, but they were always quick to respectfully correct themselves when I had to redirect them, so I let the three boys sit together all year long.

Did you notice I said that two of the three weren’t necessarily angels? The third one literally might be an angel on earth. This boy was (and is!) just the best. Always listening, always kind, always taking notes at the right times, always working hard, always turning in homework on time. He’s just one of those kids who’s always doing the right thing, which is a teacher’s dream come true. 

One day toward the end of the school year, I put up a list of 10 vocab words on the board that I was quizzing the students on the following day. They already had these words on a previous assignment that I’d handed back, but I put the list up just in case anyone had lost the piece of paper they were listed on. My angel boy, let’s call him Mark, still had his paper, but he was writing the words down anyway—just in case—because that’s the kind of thorough student he is. His friend, sitting right next to him, started writing down the words, too. After jotting down a couple, he asked: 

***

Wait, don’t we already have these words somewhere?

Yes. I handed back the assignment with these same words and definitions a couple days ago.

Oh, okay. Then why are we writing them down again? 

I juuust explained that I put them up on the board for anybody who lost the paper… So they can adequately prepare for tomorrow’s quiz.

Oh, yeah I wasn’t listening when you said that. I have the paper in my backpack, so I don’t really need to write these down. I just do whatever I see Mark doing.

Ya know, that’s a pretty good idea. If you do whatever he’s doing, I’d say that’s probably a recipe for success.

***

All three of us got a good chuckle out of the conversation. The more I thought about this student’s instinctive response, the more it made me smile. He was quick to own up to the fact that he hadn’t been listening, and he was also quick to proudly admit that he’s a follower. Luckily for him, he’s chosen a fantastic person to follow. But actually, I don’t think there was any luck involved in that decision for him! He’s gone to school with Mark since kindergarten, and he knows exactly what Mark is like. He knows that Mark works hard, gets really good grades, and is never in trouble. This boy, the follower, is also extremely bright! Just a little more ornery. So his decision to do whatever he sees Mark doing is no coincidence. It’s strategic and smart. (And by the way, the two boys are great friends! This isn’t a situation where somebody is just taking advantage of the other person.)

So who are you watching? Who are you picking a seat next to? Who are you copying? Who are you surrounding yourself with? Who are you allowing to rub off on you? Whether you realize it or not, somebody IS having an influence on you. Are you positioning yourself next to the right people who can have the right impact on your life? Are you seeking out friends who love Jesus? Are you being intentional about scheduling coffee dates with people who will speak godly words and wisdom into your life? Are you kindly distancing yourself from those coworkers who just want to gossip and complain? The answers to these questions matter, and I challenge you to really stop and think through them. What adjustments might God be nudging you to make? 

Letting those three ninth grade boys sit next to each other may have actually been one of the best decisions I made all year. Since Mark was one of the three, His powerful influence spilled over onto his two friends who were also fantastic kids but just a little more squirrely and mischievous. 

I just do whatever I see Mark doing.

What a great reminder to you and I today! Surround yourself with people who point you to God. If you’re imitating them, then you’re on the pathway toward imitating Him. 

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -Ephesians 5:1-2