In a world where every contact leaves a trace, what kind of trace do I want to leave?

KNOWN as the “Sherlock Holmes of France” Doctor Edmond Locard was a French forensic scientist working during the first half of the twentieth century.

He developed the science of investigating and analysing criminal activity in ways that had never been done before. Most famously he shaped criminal investigation in ways which still drives the work of the police today. The theory he formulated is summed up in the phrase: every contact leaves a trace.

This means that, in carrying out a crime, the perpetrator brings evidence of themselves (fingerprints, clothing fibres, hair, footprints and so on) to the crime scene. He or she will also take away from the scene particles that can link them to that crime. Those of us who watch television detective series or read crime fiction are used to this theory being central to criminal investigation.

Reading about Locard, and his work, this week started me thinking. This principle is surely not limited to the world of the police and crime. Every human interaction makes a difference. Whenever two people interact an exchange takes place: for better or worse.

Reflecting on my life and the people who have made a difference to the person I am today I realise something important: while I do not remember much of what people taught me in detail, I do remember who they were. I know that many of the values that I hold nowadays were shaped by the actions and attitudes of my parents. I suspect too that there are aspects of my character that arise from the many contacts (positive and negative) of people who I cannot recall or name.

Such thoughts leave me with a challenge about the way I live my days. The way I talk to my grandchildren, treat the person on the supermarket checkout and (more challengingly) respond to the cold caller on the phone will make a difference.

Jesus said, “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself ” which makes me wonder: of all the contacts I will have today, and every day, what kind of trace do I want to leave?

>