Small acts big impact

There are quite a few scenarios where we see a small act of kindness having a big impact on others.

I was speaking with a colleague that has been struggling at home with their marriage. Although I was a listening ear, it reminded me of the impact one can have just being that listening ear. Absolutely, she appreciated it, and I knew in that moment she made herself vulnerable. Something that is not normally seen at work.

Recognising My Own Vulnerability

It has been recognised that I am vulnerable, not because I need additional support, but because of the situation I have found myself in that is way out of my control. Many would argue, I need to put my faith in the Lord. as hard as it may seem

I lost my job on Friday, and the first thing I did was contact the person I had the most trust in with no professional attachment, someone who could see my pain from another lens.

The reason is they owned a successful business, now sold, and have settled into retirement. This person sat, listened, and could support me in the moment. They were of value in the conversation so I could process and understand the impact of what just happened in my vulnerable state.

So although my worries may be small in comparison to the greater situation in the organisation, I was able to ask my trusted friend:

“What do I do now, what next?”

And the response was one I couldn’t have expected:

“Stop and take some time, think about what it is you would like to do. Use the time that has been given to you to invest in something for your future. Invest in your thoughts. Plan to make a plan.”

Is it to run a business, again?
Do I work for another organisation, again?
Or should I head to the nearest housing development and hand my resume to them. As far as I am concerned in this moment I have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Teaching While Learning

Whilst all this has been happening, I had to teach my young people on small acts making a big difference.

Knowing I was going through a difficult situation myself, I have recognised my passion with young people, the value I get from teaching the word of God, engaging in my youth, and just listening to them express their concerns, with school, the world and their close friends.

Is this my calling?

Rachel Held Evans writes, in “Make It Work”: A Homily on Luke 17:5–10, “the story begins with the disciples approaching Jesus with a seemingly reasonable request:

“Lord! Increase our faith!”

It’s an understandable request given the sort of things Jesus has been teaching:

Love your enemies.
Bless those who curse you.
Forgive even when it’s not deserved.
Give without expecting anything in return.
Be ready to take up your cross.

But Jesus responds to the disciples’ request with a touch of irritation, the Greek would suggest a bit of snark, and he tells them that if they had faith as small as a mustard seed, they could command a mulberry tree to uproot itself and replant in the sea… and it would obey.”

Faith in Action

Sometimes this can be really hard for us to comprehend. I need to keep myself busy, I need to make sure that justice is served, I need to look after my own well-being as well as my family, I need to love and serve God.

But what are we being asked to do?
Stop, serve the Lord and have a little faith!

Rachel writes that “we have to keep in mind that throughout the gospels, Jesus reserves his harshest criticisms for the proud and saves his most biting satire for the folks who need to be brought down a peg.

From the beginning, Jesus’ ministry was about lifting up the humble and humbling the proud, of challenging those in authority and giving voice to the marginalised. So it’s safe to assume that there must have been an element of pride or entitlement at work in the disciples’ request to warrant this sort of response.”

She continues:

“There’s nothing more ridiculously useless than replanting a mulberry tree in the ocean!

And I wonder if Jesus wasn’t reminding his disciples that faith isn’t manifested in flashy magic tricks, or pointless, self-congratulatory displays of power, or in destruction and uprooting, but in daily acts of faithfulness, those quotidian acts of obedience that grow the kingdom, one carefully tended little mustard seed at a time.”

Planting My Mustard Seeds

So that’s where I am going. I am going to plant one small little mustard seed at a time.

Seed number 1, I will love the Lord.

As I plant my mustard seeds, I invite you to do the same. Look for those small acts of kindness, start listening, keep encouraging, forgiving and praying. These may seem insignificant but hold kingdom sized impact.

Take one step today to serve with faith.
Plant your seed, trust God with the growth, and watch how even the smallest act can move mountains.

With blessings

Joel