The Small is Big

The health of the oceans depends on the health of rivers; the health of rivers depends on the health of small streams; the health of small streams depends on the health of their watersheds. The health of the water is exactly the same as the health of the land; the health of small places is exactly the same as the health of large places. We cannot immunize the continents and the oceans against our contempt for small places. Small destructions add up, and finally they are understood collectively as large destructions. Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry writes about the land. But I’m guessing it’s true with our hearts as well… the health of the small area is the same as the whole. Things become significant precisely because they seem insignificant. I can only grow big when I don’t overlook the small. That’s God’s perspective… the small things are the big things.

• The Hebrews led out of Egypt by a baby floating down the river in a basket.

• The giant, Goliath defeated by a shepherd boy.

• Gideon had 32,000 men but God shaved it down to 300 before battle.

• The fall of Jericho because of the faith of Rahab, one lone woman.

• Jesus feeding thousands with just a few fish and loaves of bread.

• A baby in a manger makes a way for the entire human race.

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things. Bruce Barton

Don't Believe Everything You Think

Recently, I dreamt about a mistake I made in a college football game played over 20 years ago. Interesting... I made a lot more good plays than bad but I still wind up dreaming about the bad two decades later. Which really isn't that surprising. Any coach or ball player will tell you that the games they lost stay with them longer than the games they won. That's because the emotional sting of loss is greater than the emotional charge of gain. Negative events or "hits" affect us more strongly than the relatively positive. (For more see Bad is Stronger than Good)

I strongly believe the Scriptures teach us to monitor our thoughts (Phil 4:8,Proverbs 4:23). It's imperative that we set our minds on God's reality over against our own reality. Without understanding what God's reality and freedom is we're all predisposed toward fixating on our mistakes, problems and our past.

However, that doesn't mean that all negative events or moods are destructive. Not only can critical or cynical dispositions save us in times of danger they can make us more effective at certain tasks. For example, I've learned after reading Emotional Intelligence that balancing my checkbook or putting a budget together while in a bad mood actually orients me to be more realistic about how I'm spending my money. The trick is getting myself in a bad mood!

To take this all a step further... I don't believe the the goal of the believer is to be free from emotions. I'm not even convinced that we can be free from their influence. The best assessment I have right now is that the goal is to be from the control of emotions. 2Corinthians 10:5 exhorts us to take every thought captive, submitting it to the authority of Christ.

So be aware of what you're feeling. It is a part of how God made you. But don't be driven by every emotion you have. Don't believe everything you think.