"The Bigness of Small Things"

“The Bigness of Small Things”

“Are you engaged in the bigness of small things?”   There are instances in which we spend inordinate time and energy on things that are of absolutely no consequence.  We engage a lot of meaningless battles.  Our emotions rise to frenzy and we utilize considerable resources that could be better spent on more substantial matters.  Quite frankly, focusing upon small things naturally flows from small-mindedness. 

Clarity about priorities prevents this dilemma.  We begin with defining worthwhile objectives and purposes for our marriages, families, churches, jobs, and communities.  What is the purpose of all of our activity?  What motivates our commitment and service?  What are our aims?  How do we determine our progress toward achieving our goals?  Stephen Covey, in his best-selling book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, recommends we write a mission statement.  Then, we evaluate and determine the use of our time, finances, talents and abilities through the prism of our personal mission statement.

A merry-go-round symbolizes our daily routines.  The force of the circular motion propels itself.  Similarly, the melodrama of embracing meaningless causes fuels itself.  Is there really a “right” way to wash the dishes after dinner?  Is there a certain angle from which the plants must be watered?  On the job, is it really helpful to compare your commitment to that of your colleagues?  Should the success of a project rest upon a color scheme or verb tense?  In our church communities, should we derail the ministry of the Lord because someone failed to consult with us?  Trivial projects are the motion of a merry-go-round.  The dizziness they cause inhibits our ability to see more worthwhile tasks that actually warrant our attention.

Periodically, it helps to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of life.  In the quietness of solitude, we reflect upon our lives.  Are we living the life we imagined in our youth?  Henry David Thoreau encourages us, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life that you have imagined.”  Accordingly, we should consult our “dream file.”  Perhaps, there are dusty goals that need redefining.  We subsequently recommit to pursuing them.  Thereby, we break the monotonous cycle of life.

As we meditate, we additionally consider the eternal, spiritual and financial significance of daily activities.  Will any changes possess enduring benefits to others or us?  One of my former bosses arrived on the job with “a new sheriff in town” mindset.  She quickly rearranged anything and everything in our unit’s operation.  When the dust settled a few months later, we realized she essentially had no vision for our department.  Her changes solidified her power and made her comfortable.  Essentially, they were meaningless changes.  Moreover, they were costly given the additional resources she requested in salary, personnel, office space and other amenities.  But, they were not enduring changes, which furthered the goals of the unit.  In fact, the performance declined consistently and considerably the entire time she ran the unit.

Writing for a very popular business magazine, a chief executive officer of a Fortune 500 company offered six recommendations for allocating time and energy for this year instead of articulating and pursuing meaningless New Year’s resolutions.  He suggests you prioritize your marriage and family as they comprise the most meaningful relationships you have in life.  Second, he considers meditation as important to maximizing your time and abilities; a visual roadmap is necessary before embarking upon a project.  Learning to listen and listening to learn are his third recommendation; listening assures people you value them and their contributions.  Fourth, listening establishes mutually respectful relationships out of which productivity and effectiveness emerge.  Instead of completing meaningless paperwork, your time may be better spent investing in collegial relationships.  Fifth, he articulates the importance of unlearning techniques which are not working.  “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten.”  That recommendation implies humility and patience.  His sixth and final suggestion is the necessity of maintaining a reading discipline to further the other ideas.

As I accept and implement his recommendations, I ask you again “Are you engaged in the bigness of small things?”