July 23
Unconscious influence
“So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre . . . yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre . . . then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed” (John 20: 4-8).
Little does Peter think, as he comes up where his doubting brother is looking into the sepulcher, and goes straight in, after his peculiar manner, that he is drawing in his brother apostle after him. As little does John think, when he loses his misgivings and goes into the sepulcher after Peter, that he is following his brother.
And just so unawares to himself, is every man, the whole race through, laying hold on his fellowman, to lead him where he otherwise would not go. We overrun the boundaries of our personality—we flow together. A Peter leads a John, a John goes after a Peter, both of them unconscious of any influence exerted or received.