Small Diligences
I think, we often worry too much about being original. Because the fact of the matter, is that we are not.
And the other hard fact is that, the harder we try to be original, the less we are.
In a world full of men and women who have been given such beautiful gifts to use, designed by a Creator Who made us with the ability to imitate Him in this, there is so much that is good and beautiful that is created every day. That alone can make it feel intimidating to take up your pen and sketch out a sparrow, because you are doing something that has been done a hundred, thousand times before throughout all time; man trying to capture what he sees, trying to capture beauty.
When you pick up your knife, that block of wood in your hands, there is the question lodged in the back of your mind—with this be worth it? Will anyone like it? And honestly, if you are doing it for ‘anyone’ to like it, they probably won’t. But the gravity of creating doesn’t come from the hope that someone out there, somewhere will like it, but in the sheer joy of creating something worth creating. Something that in some way, reflects this haunting, beautiful tune that all of creation has been singing throughout all time.
When we create, it will hopefully remind others of the beauty that is already there in a real, tangible way that can stand in your home for decades upon decades, a reminder of what is good, what is praiseworthy and what is true through our King. That, is an worthwhile goal to take up your pen—or your needle or your camera or your laptop or paintbrush or your knife—for. Because we get to remind others of the good and the everlasting faithfulness of God that is stretched out throughout all of creation.
Little things, well made, little reminders. We serve as those with hope. We serve as those with joy.
Take heart; take courage.
We serve as those with a good and real hope in a good and real King, Who made all the beauty in this world in a million practical things, because He could, and for His glory. I truly do not believe that there is a person out there who does not have a gift they could use to encourage and uplift those around them, to help them take courage.
And yet too often, we put them aside, pretending that the constant flow of instant media that we see everywhere is more worthwhile. But, we have these gifts.
We get to use skills and talents that we have. we get to cultivate them to the joy of our King in everyday life, to fill and bless the lives of those around us in small, real, honest ways. We get to be diligent in these little things, each and every day of our lives as we walk onward, and that is a joy. I am thankful that we know The God Who does not despise little things, but treasures them, and not only treasures them, but blesses and honors us for these small, small services, as though we were not still so, so far away from righteousness.
How gracious, how truly gracious is He, not to despise these small things, but to take them with joy, and yet we wonder if they will have value to anyone. “He who is faithful in the little…”
Take up your knife. Carve the wood. Take up your bowl. Knead the bread. Take up your pen. Write the song. Take up your voice. Praise our Lord. We get to serve Him today. And that is a glorious, beautiful thing. We get to serve Him with these little things and the big alike, and in doing that, we get to, in all these little ways, encourage His people through all the days we walk on this earth, in a million small ways. So do not worry about if it is original or unique. Take up your pencil and do it for the glory of God, and to the praise of His Name, taking up faithfulness.
What a joy that is.
Amen.
