If I could choose a theme for my meditations on my week at Camp Mosaic, I might pick "little things." I could choose leadership, flexibility, diversity, or even humility (I had a first grader teaching me soccer!), but the little things seem so much more important.
First, my role this week and in all the preparation is
new for me. In the past, I have done little, but what I have done, I can humbly
say that I have done well. Jesus tells us that if we are faithful in the little things, we shall be given more.
In all of my service, I try to be faithful, doing whatever is asked of me, no
matter how insignificant. My reward is a new task, one much larger and
important, but for which I have been given the strength necessary, prepared by
my time in more obscure roles.
Second, the children running about in the field chasing
soccer balls and spraying me with the hose are certainly little things. But
they have big smiles and bigger hearts, which makes my difficult duties a joy.
Each of them is precious to their Creator and desired by their Savior. If I can
be a part of them coming to a saving knowledge of their King--be it by
witnessing to them directly or by doing field work so that others are free to
do so--then it will be more than enough for me.
Third, I believe that it may be time to rethink a widely
accepted saying about not being able to "see the forest for the
trees." Certainly, getting our heads out of the details to see the big
picture is important. But I think that, while the big picture is our
motivation, the little pictures are our inspiration. Perhaps there is a time
when it is more important to see the trees than the forest. After all, if your
"big picture" is to end world hunger, then what is one sandwich given
to someone in poverty? If your big picture is to bring the world to salvation,
what is one game of soccer with a first grade boy from Iraq--regardless of my
soccer skills (or lack thereof)? We must think in large terms to set our goals,
but we must take time for the little things; else the big things will never be
accomplished.
The big picture motivates us to do the little things
which reap little rewards which inspire us to keep doing little things until we
achieve the big picture. Will we ever see the world come to know Christ? Sadly,
no. But we must keep the goal in mind to motivate us every time we are bogged
down with the details. Conversely, when we are overwhelmed with the immensity
of our mission, we must focus on the little things, the moments and memories
and minute victories that inspire us to keep going.
The week's game time was full of moments. Watching children
squeal as they melt a block of ice with their hands, kicking a soccer ball with
a few first graders, standing over a bucket as the children shuttle water
across the field in a cup of holes--they are all moments that seem
insignificant. But perhaps, because I took the burden, someone else was able to
connect with those children, enabling them to share the gospel. If my purpose
is to facilitate a setting in which children can come to the Shepherd, then I
will gladly labor in the heat and humidity all week.
Like my week at Camp Mosaic, time speeds past me, and if I do not make a conscious effort to experience and enjoy the little things, then I will miss out on so much more.
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