Small Is Significant

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We’re constantly told that we ‘need’ a bigger house, bigger car, bigger holiday, bigger bank balance, bigger influence, bigger popularity…

This morning I’m reading Ecclesiastes. The rich, wise teacher accumulates bigger houses, a bigger vineyard and wine cellar, bigger gardens and parks – with bigger water features, a bigger selection of slaves and servants, a bigger entertainment programme, a bigger hareem… ‘I denied myself nothing’. He concludes:

‘When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind…’  Bigger wasn’t better.

Yesterday…

…The Seagull posted: ‘All of us at the Seagull theatre were delighted to launch our brand-new community wellbeing garden. We are very grateful to the Men’s Shed Pakefield, who have created a wonderful pair of benches and table…’

Together we celebrated: a small significant project, a small significant garden.

…Paul was part of the celebrations. Paul’s recovering from cancer surgery. He explained how a small part of his gut was removed. The surgeons are confident that they caught the cancer early and that all of the cancer is removed.

Paul’s recovering well: a small significant removal.

…Keith told me of a time when he had left a coffee spoon beside the sink. His wife, Janet, thought he ought to have put it in the washing up bowl in the sink. Janet let Keith know in no uncertain terms! We discussed how small matters can escalate…

They laugh about it now: a small significant teaspoon.

Preachers sometimes quote the prophet Zechariah: ‘‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ says the Lord’. Zechariah then says, ‘Do not despise the day of small things…’ Small is significant.

Jesus used a small child to teach his followers that they should become ‘like little children’. Small is significant.

Jesus talked about a small mustard seed growing into a large tree that provides shelter for birds, that faith ‘the size of a mustard seed’ can move mountains. Small is significant.

11 thoughts on “Small Is Significant”

  2. Every year, I plant seeds in trays in my greenhouse.  I wait in anticipation.  And, I still get a feeling of amazement that such beauty can come from those small seeds.

    This year, I planted some dahlia seeds what seems like a couple of months ago and the flowers produced already are beautiful.

    Life can be, and should be for everybody, beautiful.  If only.

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      1. Absolutely, I find nature completely amazing and wonderful. However, I actually love that I do not have any explanation except evolution.

        But, are we both not very lucky that we can sit in our “ivory towers” and wake most mornings. look outside at our gardens and feel that our own lives have been so fortuitous.

        Julie, as an ex social worker, often reminds me how unfortunate lots of people are and how fortunate we are.  We, as so many do, have our monthly DD to charities of our choice.  But, is it not all an investment for peace of mind?

        I have to say that I so admire and revere your daughter who went to Brazil and, as they say, “Walked the walk as well as talked the talk”

        My granddaughter is off to Kenya tomorrow.  She is in Year 10 at Wymondham College.  I expect the visit to a local orphanage, planned, will be a very sobering experience.  But, I wonder what effect it will have on her, and her friends, futures.  Hopefully a bit more than a patronising essay when they get home.

        Enough cynicism for one evening.

        Take care and enjoy the “footie” on Saturday. How I hate that expression.  I will make an effort to only flick over a couple of times to see the score while watching Ludwig or something more suitable.

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