Those who die and come back often speak of what’s been dubbed the “ripple effect” — how what we think of as minor actions or words or thoughts here on earth can send “ripples” to a surprising and even startling number of others, even around the world.

It can be a pebble we toss in, or a boulder, a small little wave or like a tsunami, which isn’t even noticed on the open ocean, only when it approaches the shallowness of a shore.

Said a fellow named Ricky Randolph, who succumbed during a hunting accident, recalling a review of his life that Jesus took him through:

“Then to my right I saw what seemed to be like a movie, and I was in it. I saw my mother giving me birth, my childhood and friends. I saw everything from my youth up. I saw everything I had ever done before my eyes!

“As my life played out before my very eyes I tried to think of good things I had done. I was raised in church and had been very active in church functions.

“Yet as I pondered on this, I saw a man in a car that had run out of gas. I had stopped and given him a lift to a local store about a year ago. I bought him some gas, as he had no money, and helped him get on his way. I thought to myself, why am I seeing this? The Voice was loud and clear:

“‘You took no thought to help this soul and asked nothing in return. These actions are the essence of good.’

“I saw all the people I had hurt as well and was shown how my actions had set in motion the actions of others. I was stunned! I had never thought of my life having an effect on the actions that friends, family, and others I had met would take. I saw the results of all I had done. I was not pleased at all.

“I looked on until the events came to an end. Indeed I had done so little with my life. I had been selfish and cruel in so many ways. I was truly sorry I had done so little. Then again loud and clear I heard the Voice speak again, ‘You must return.'”

And so it goes — and so it will go, if we accept the allegements of death crossovers.

The Lord, Scripture says (as do saints such as Faustina), desires mercy before sacrifice. He was Himself the tiniest of pebbles making hardly a discernible ripple two thousand years ago, and yet the quality of that pebble is such that its ripple continues to sweep, and will endlessly, around the world.

[resources: A Life of Blessings]