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The Pastoral Lens
Little Things Can Mean Much
Tuesday, October 1, 2002
I have noticed over the years that much of life's energy centers around "big" events. Important things like the birth of a baby, the first day of school, our first day on a job, our wedding day, etc. provide the focal points from which other living takes place. We may get a calendar out at the beginning of the year and sit down to write in all the "big" (translation: important) events of the year ahead."Let's see," I tell my wife, "October has our anniversary on the 6th, Thanksgiving on the 14th, and my sister Holly's birthday on the 28th." There are 31 days in the month of October, but life for us streams through these "big" events, or so our calendar would indicate. There's only one problem: life is not like that. Oh sure, we celebrate the "big" events but life is lived in the "small" events, the mundane and the routine. No meals are written in on the calendar but they will all be there, not only for daily, physical survival, but also for meaningful conversations around the table with family. I learn all about the day my children have had between mouthfuls of casserole and gulps of milk. This is often the highlight of my day.
How about considering phone calls? Let's face it, we take the phone for granted, yet so much time is spent on it. Goodness, people can't even drive in their cars or go out to a restaurant without taking a phone along and connecting with someone.
"Let's call Aunt Vicky in Winnipeg and tell her we were thinking of her today and wondering how her hip surgery went last week."
Little notes fall into this category, as well. There have been times when I've received notes out of the blue that have put a smile on my face and brightened my day. There's a man in my church who often drops me a note in the mail to encourage me after a sermon or give me a teasing dig about being a Blue Jays fan (I'm a Cleveland Indians fan). I love to get these epistles of encouragement.
Little surprises are often more gratifying than planned big events. I was attending a pastors' conference in Midland, Michigan last week and arranged to stay at the Ramada Inn. I had booked my reservation over the internet and got a great deal, almost too good to be true. When I checked in, I wanted to verify my "unbelievable" room rate. Not only was it confirmed, but I was also informed that they had upgraded my room to "business" status. What this meant was that my double bed went to a king size and the room included a Jacuzzi bath. The original cheap rate remained intact and the perks were added gratis. I know, I know, they just wanted to bolster my chances of staying there again sometime, right? Right! It certainly did increase my chances of staying there again. Smart business people have long learned the benefits of winning in the small stuff.
As a Christian, I'm looking for ways to be a blessing in some small way to people. Reaching for the moon is fine, but you still have to get the rocket off the ground. Jesus touched people in the everyday things. The first 4 books of the New Testament chronicle many of the touches and conversations of Jesus' earthly ministry. Spend some time there and discover how Jesus lived in the day to day. Then go and enjoy your dinner conversation with your family tonight. It may just be the highlight of your day.
