The Butterfly Effect

I often think about the butterfly effect -- the phenomenon that even the smallest occurrence can influence much larger complex systems. Just as the metaphor suggests that the flap of a butterfly’s wings can go on to trigger something as massive as a typhoon, seemingly insignificant moments can powerfully shape our futures in unexpected ways.?

Randomly checking my spam mail during my sophomore year is the reason I have a job lined up after graduation.?

Taking a leap of faith during the pandemic changed my entire college experience as I know it.

Writing an essay my junior year of high school helped me discover what I’m truly passionate about.?

Sometimes, I wonder what my life would look like if these events never occurred. Who would I have not met? What experiences would I have missed out on? How would my daily priorities differ? What would my future look like? I think about God’s hand in these moments that have become movements in my life -- and while they don’t match anything I could have ever planned for myself, I somehow have peace that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.

I recently spoke at my high school and reconnected with Kevin Flinn , my former English teacher who assigned me that pivotal essay. I told him that while I didn’t know it at the time, his class helped me blend what I'm passionate about with what I’m good at, an elusive feat most people only hope to achieve in their professional careers. He expressed that it’s rare for us to find our direction in life so early, but that you never know when seeds might be planted that can blossom into something more meaningful than you could ever imagine.

While I don't know what minuscule moment may set off the next chain of events that could alter my life in profound ways, these experiences have taught me to approach everything with diligence and gratitude, recognizing that even the smallest moments and challenges can shape our journeys far beyond what meets the eye.