The Endless Ripple Effects of “Passing It On”

PASS IT ON

By Kurt Kaiser

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding;

The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming.
That’s how it is with God’s love;
Once you’ve experienced it, you want to sing
“It’s fresh like spring”; you want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend, this happiness that I’ve found.
You can depend on Him, it matters not where you’re bound.
I’ll shout it from the mountaintop – PRAISE GOD
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.

When so-called contemporary Christian music began to appear on the scene in the late 1960’s/early 70’s, this song by Kurt Kaiser was one of the most popular ones. With its decidedly evangelistic message, it was a natural choice for youth
retreats and invitation times at the end of worship services. It was intended to motivate believers to boldly share
their faith.
The idea of “passing it on” is a very positive and effective one in the secular world as well. So much good can be done
for humanity if an individual who RECEIVES a blessing turns around and BECOMES a blessing to someone else. The ripple effects are endless.
During a recent visit to Oxford, Mississippi, I toured Rowan Oak, the family home of highly-acclaimed and prolific
writer, William Faulkner. 

The next day I visited a popular store in the downtown square called Square Books. That
very afternoon a book-signing was being held at the children’s book branch of Square Books called Square Books Jr.
for this book and its author. I was scheduled to leave before the signing began, but I decided to buy the book anyway,
knowing that I have a host of grandchildren who love to read. 

The message of the book is powerful. A black man named Earnest McEwen, Jr. had an insatiable desire to read and to learn and who longed to attend college. He got a job as a janitor at Ole Miss, and several professors noticed that he
arrived early and stayed late to devour any books that he could find. Those professors were acquaintances of William Faulkner’s. William Faulkner sent a message to the young man to come out to Rowan Oak for a visit. Earnest (Ernie) nervously did so.

William Faulkner told him he wanted to make his dream of a college education come true, and Ernie was able to enroll at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. The story is beautifully told by Ernie’s daughter, Gloria J. McEwen Burgess. Gloria and her four sisters caught their father’s desire for education. Three now have doctoral degrees. One is a social worker. Gloria herself is a therapist and a pastor. All are using their educations to benefit hundreds of others. Faulkner’s generosity has already had far-reaching effects.

Each of us has received blessings upon blessings from God. Now (I’m asking myself as well as you), how are we using
those blessings to bless others?
God said to Abram in Genesis 12:2 – “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing.”
Proverbs 11:25 – “The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”