By: Rev. Steve Zimmerman
“If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves.”
Emily Dickenson
In light of the recent tragic shootings of the last few weeks in our country, it seems hard for us as brothers and sisters in Christ to have a clear path going forward. The easy default seems to “hunker down” and shelter in place both individually as well as a church. Yet this action is not the true message of the Gospel if we are followers of Christ.
But this mindset is not a new one. Over the past few months, I have asked pastors in North Carolina and Virginia to share with us in a survey their top three needs that they see in their churches. Their input will help us shape what kind of training we can offer their church(es) next spring. One need that seems to rise to the top for many of these spiritual leaders is future visioning. A challenge we constantly face with the pastors and churches is not to come in with another “program” on how to look forward but instead instill a process that will shed light on how they can see the journey that God is leading them to go as a church.
A step in this right direction is understanding the significance of the little. As you might notice in the picture above, I have changed a little bit. I am now a few more pounds lighter and have a new pair of glasses. The weight loss has come about by changing my diet and exercise. The vision has come about due to cataract surgery. The latter was done over the summer. Everything went well until I got my new glasses. The good news was that I could now see who was sleeping during my sermons! The bad news was that I struggled with my sermon notes. It wasn’t until a few trips back to the optometrist that my glasses had been measured incorrectly by a few millimeters. My vision was off just a little. Once that problem was corrected, my focus was much clearer. I didn’t need new eyes, just an adjustment in my lenses.
You see little things do make a difference. We have Scripture to back us up on it! A little baby Moses was saved out of the Nile River to one day lead a ragtag people to the Promised Land. Little Samuel heard the voice of God calling him to be a great prophet. A little shepherd boy David eventually became the king of a great nation. Of course, there was a little baby Jesus who came to dwell among us and later gave us access to God’s love and grace.
Now I am not saying that for a church to have a future that they need to invest solely in children’s ministry. But investing in the little things can keep you going in the direction God is calling you to go. It’s the little things that truly make a difference!
You and I may not be able to change the dialogue of the big things in our society. But we are called to be salt and light in our little part of the world. Little by little if we are open to God’s Spirit we will start to see God move in and through us.
Therefore, what do you need to do as a Christian and as a church leader to adjust your vision? What are some simple, little things that God is calling you to do? Once you take those basic steps, it will certainly make your spiritual journey much clearer and more in tune with God’s heart. Chances are you will also begin to see your church and your community in a new light going forward. That’s a risk worth taking!
These thoughts above are from Rev. Steve Zimmerman, the founding partner in the ministry. He works alongside churches in their mission process and small group dynamics. He coordinates the work of the partnership out of Martinsville, Virginia. Contact him for more information about how he can help you.