Courage For Today

insignificant

Realizing the Significance of Insignificance

Self-Worth

I have to confess that I’m not a mechanic.  Recently, as hard as I tried, I just could not get my riding lawnmower to work properly.  I could crank the engine easy enough and put the mower in gear, but each time, the belt that turns the blade would fall off the pulley.  I would stop and put the belt back on the pulley, only to put the mower in gear and have the belt fall off again.  Over and over again, I placed the belt back on the pulley, only to see it fall off.  I could not figure out why.  It was so frustrating.

After a few hours of working on the mower, I finally noticed a small pin (called a Cotter Pin) that was missing near the pulley.  There was a medal guard that held the belt on the pulley and this medal guard was secured by this small Cotter Pin.  I couldn’t believe that this small, seemingly insignificant, pin was the key to the complete functioning of this huge piece of power equipment.  Here was this several hundred dollar riding lawn-mower, with a smooth running engine, that was rendered useless because of a non-working belt held together by a fifteen cent Cotter Pin.  What I would normally have deemed insignificant was actually tremendously essential.

I don’t know about you, but there are just days when I feel like I’m the most insignificant, meaningless person in the World.  I feel like the little Cotter Pin in my mower.  Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis; maybe it’s the stress of everyday life. Maybe it’s because I don’t seem to have any special skills or talents like some people.  Whatever the reason, there are times when I just feel almost like a failure in life.  I take an inventory of my life and think, “where has all the time gone?”  “What have I really accomplished in life.”  I’m just little old me and the World is so big.  I realize that I am just a little speck of dust in the desert of life.  It’s a true feeling of loneliness and mediocrity.

I believe there are times when each of us feels this way. For me, I have my little pity party and whine and complain and feel sorry for myself.  Then the Lord reminds me as only He can. He draws me closer to Him and strengthens my relationship with Him.  He shows me that the closer I get to Him and His Majesty and Greatness, the more I realize that I really am small, but that there’s nothing to be ashamed of or feel sorry about.  The difference is that in God’s eyes, size doesn’t equate to holiness.

The Lord blessed each of us with various talents and gifts. Some of you may have more visible and vocal talents.  Some of you, like me, may have less noticeable gifts.  The important thing to remember (and I struggle at times myself) is that we can be confident that there are no insignificant gifts and talents in God’s Kingdom.  It doesn’t matter whether I’m a small “Cotter Pin” in the World’s eyes, or the large, attention-grabbing “Mower,” all of the part’s are equally important and must work together in unison to function properly.  I’m reminded that during those times that I feel small, unnoticeable, and worthless in the World’s eyes, I’m large, strong, victorious, and loved in God’s eyes.

Are you feeling like you’re not making a difference? Are you feeling like your talents are not important?  If so, you’re not alone.  Snuggle up to God and be reminded that every gift and talent of every person is equally critical to the Work of the Lord.  Then, thank HIM for the gifts and talents you do have, no matter what the World thinks; hold your head high and serve HIM with a new found confidence and excitement that only God can bring to your life.

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Strength In Numbers

Strength

Sunday was an especially emotional day for me.  The Cemetery in which my Mother is buried holds a special Candlelight service the First Sunday in December of each year.  The Cemetery personnel place small, single candles in front of each grave marker in the Cemetery.  Then, at a designated time, all the candles are lit.  It is truly a sight to see.

Leading up to the event is quite special.  Cars arrive to the Cemetery by the dozens.  As each car enters and parks in the Cemetery, you can’t help but wonder about the different stories and loved ones that are represented.  What kind of life did they lead?  How did they pass away?  What family do they have remaining?  Were they Christian, or non-Christian?

It was a particularly cold night, at least by Georgia standards, in the low 20’s.  We were told that we should all light our respective candles precisely at 5:30 PM, just at the brink of dusk.  As people arrived, you could see the hundreds of people walking to the various sites of their particular loved ones.  You could see families standing around gravesides holding hands.  You saw others sitting in folding chairs near their family member or friends graveside.  Despite all the different stories and all the different families that were all represented, we all had one thing in common at that particular time and that was to remember and celebrate the life of a particular loved one;  Mom in my case.

At precisely 5:30, you could see the first candle being lit.  Then another. Then, yet another.  Slowly, but surely, the entire Cemetery was a-glow with the beautifully lit candles.  Not one candle on it’s own would be noticeable, but all the hundreds of candles together united in a symphony of lite that was even observant in surrounding neighborhoods and streets.

There are a lot of Christian analogy’s I could use for this story, but let me take you down this journey.  Speaking from experience, I know that there are times in my life that I have felt totally insignificant.  Useless, and unworthy for God’s service, in my opinion.  I had no special skills.  I am not a great speaker.  I don’t have a lot of money.  I don’t have multiple degrees.  How was God going to use an insignificant person like me?

Maybe you’ve felt the same way at times?  I’ve learned over the years that nothing is insignificant in God’s eyes.  What may be totally insignificant in your eyes is wonderful in God’s eyes.  Instead of dwelling on what I didn’t have, I began focusing on what I did have.  I could certainly smile and be friendly to others, couldn’t I?  I could certainly be a friend to someone in need, couldn’t I?  I could even write a small “I’m Thinking of You” Note to a friend.  I could pray for someone in need.  I could just listen to a close friend pour his or her heart out and let them know I care.  I could live my life by example so that others could see Christ’s Love through me.  I learned that these small things that I can do are really not insignificant, in God’s eyes, especially if you realize that we are the Body of Christ.  If I do a little and you do a little and someone else does a little, it all of a sudden becomes larger than what I could do on my on.

Just like Sunday at the Candlelight service, the one, insignificant Candle had little affect.  But, in union with hundreds of others, it was more powerful than one could imagine.

Are you feeling insignificant in God’s service?  If so, don’t lose site of the fact that you are an important part of God’s overall plan and, together with other Christians, YOU can make a difference.

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