The Importance of Little Things

Last week a big storm came through the Northwest.  A lot of people lost power, trees fell down, people ran into each other in their cars, snow made driving difficult and, for some, impossible.  The thing that really contributed to making life difficult was the wind.  Air moving with velocity can cause problems.  You can't even see it but you see its impact.

The wind played havoc with CSCC's Sunday services.  It blew over a satellite dish that knocked over the propane pipe that leads to the church.  The pipe broke and $1500 worth of gas dissipated though the air.  No gas, no heat.  No heat, people get cold.  People get cold, they get cranky.

It got me thinking about how little things can make a big difference in our lives.  We have an expectation that things will stay the way we like them or, at the least, the way that we have gotten used to.  But then little things happen and it throws us off our game.

Too often we overlook the little things as insignificant events in our life.  We should instead view them as the training grounds of faith.  The little things are not irritants, they are opportunities to turn our face toward God and pay attention.  I must confess, I find it much easier to get irritated than I do to intentionally listen to God.

If I believe the Bible, I'm compelled to believe that God is in the little things, they matter, I matter and the fingerprint of God can be seen in these little things.  

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..."

Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians.  It was a reminder of God's purpose in our salvation but it is also a reminder that God has a purpose, it can't be thwarted and the little things are important.  

Pay attention to the little things.