Big Enough… Small Enough…

Yesterday morning I received a message: ‘I saw a lorry this morning with the logo ‘Big enough to cope, small enough to care’. It made me think about God and what he means to me.’

Set me musing…

…Reading the strange, cautionary tale of Samson. I’ve often found it difficult; this morning it seemed remarkably up to date…

It’s about a self-centred man with strength and power… who got what he wanted by bullying and force… who tried to keep secrets, which, when they came to light, caused trouble and suffering, affecting many… whose multiple relationships with women were unloving, uncontrolled and his ultimate downfall.

It may have appeared that he was big enough to cope, but because he wasn’t small enough to care he was eventually destroyed.

…Reading Rowan Williams’ ‘Silence and Honey Cakes’ aboutthe desert fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries.

Williams defines their spirituality of as ‘the cultivation of a relationship with eternal truth and love’ saying that this ‘simply doesn’t happen unless we mend our relations with Tom Dick and Harriet. The actual substance of our relationship with eternal truth and love is bound up with how we manage the proximity of these human neighbours.’

Williams quotes ‘John the Dwarf’: ‘You don’t build a house by starting with the roof and working down. You start with the foundation… The foundation is our neighbour whom we must win. The neighbour is where we start. Every commandment of Christ depends on this.’

…Visiting a friend in a care-home yesterday. It’s a lovely place with caring staff. The place and the people are certainly ‘big enough to cope and small enough to care’.

…Reflecting on organisations, businesses and communities that I’ve been part of – school, church, local theatre… the foundation of ‘the neighbour’… big enough… small enough…

…Reflecting on myself. Am I big, strong, brave enough to cope? Am I small, humble, gracious enough to care?… As my friend said: ‘It makes me think about God and what he means to me’.