Maria Salomea Sklodowska was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1867. She and her husband, Pierre Curie, discovered polonium in 1898 and they named it to honor their home country of Poland. However, what she is most known for is her discovery of radium.

Ninety years later Marie Curie’s notebooks are still radioactive! Not knowing its danger, she carried radioactive elements in her pockets and she enjoyed the fact that these particles looked like “fairy lights” around her home. The consequence of her actions was that her clothes, her furniture and even her books will be radioactive for the next 1,500 years.

Curie died in 1934 of aplastic anemia due to her prolonged exposure to radiation. Curie gave her life in pursuit of the science she loved.

As I read this bit of history, I was struck by several probing questions:

• What do I carry around with me thinking those things are harmless but are slowly hurting me and perhaps others? 
• How “radioactive” am I? 
• What am I giving my life to?

I have discovered that God wants to take our past wounds and turn them into victories. As we process those hurts with Him and receive His healing, He brings wisdom from wounds for future situations. 

Second, I want to be a positive, life-giving influence to others. That’s the radioactivity that I seek, that I long to carry. Who and what am I influencing for His glory?

And third, if radioactivity can be around for 1,500 years, how long can my influence be around? How long can what I have spoken, counseled, written or encouraged others in be active and continuing to influence lives even though I have left this earth?

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also…who will teach others…who will teach others. (II Timothy 2:2)