The Eternal Echo of Smallness

At Bible Study last week one of the participants asked, “Why can’t God do something as big as the disasters?  The flooding out west, the horrific carnage of the forest fires last summer or this pandemic that has taken over the entire globe.  These disasters cannot be ignored. Why can’t God do something that is so big everyone witnesses God’s power?”

Her question expressed the true longing of the Advent Season; the longing for God’s kingdom to be realized. 

Many others around the table nodded their heads in agreement and she quietly added, “I know God is at work.  We hear about those who step up to help and we hear about those who survived against the odds. We hear the heroic stories and know God is busy turning things around.  But why do we always have to look so hard to see the small acts of God?”

She has a point.  God does do things in obscure places in seemingly unnoticeable ways; a baby born to poor parents in a barn who grows to lead an endless worldwide movement that begun with only 12 followers.  

As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Corinth Church, “…God chose the small things…Yes, he chose even the things which seem to be nothing. He did this to destroy the big things.” (1 Corinthians 1:28)

Forest fires are eventually extinguished by each tiny drop of water and each sand bag does its part to hold back the flood.  This is how God’s kingdom works, small and quiet acts that echo for eternity.

We can help realize God’s kingdom by small acts of peace, respect, and acceptance. What a difference the world would be if each one of us decided to do one small act of kindness every day; imagine the tremendous wave of hope, peace, joy and love that would wash over the world!

Blessings,

Rev. Heather McCarrel