Fixing
In college and needing a car, I asked Dad to help me. With seven children at home he bought a '59 Plymouth coupe sports car, semi-continental kit on back, and incredibly fast. He had an appreciation for fine cars.
I paid. He helped select. Off to college I went. The car was good for a few days, and I was very happy. The first sign of a problem was so small that perhaps it could have been my anxious mind. However, the problem became obvious. By the time I limped it home with the engine struggling my frustrations had reached a conclusion.
I went into the house and said: "Dad, we can get rid of that car. It is awful. I do not like it. It runs terrible!"
Dad, rarely the excitable person, answered evenly: "Ah, Son, let's go have a look at it." I went along. But in my mind I was sure that he would soon realize this was one car his decision to purchase was a mistake. It was not that I wanted to fault Dad, but the car was a lemon! I was sure.
Raising the hood Dad said: "First thing, Son, always check for little things." He checked the battery cables. Moving over the engine he probed and checked wires. "Start the engine, Son," he said. I started the engine, and the engine missed...badly! I was so glad to be so right.
But Dad was not through. He kept looking and checking as if he was not concerned. Just a process. There were eight wires to spark plugs. Wire to plug number five was virtually off. Only with vibration of the engine was there occasional electrical contact. When Dad pressed the wire firmly back on the spark plug the engine began to run smoothly and powerfully!
"There, Son, never get in too big a hurry to check the little things. Always check the little things before panicking." There was no criticism in his voice, but there was instruction about life.
I have heard that it takes 20 miles to dock the Enterprise Battleship. It is so massive that if the ship came in full throttle it could create tides destroying ships, boats, and shorelines. Think of all the little things going on inside that ship and on shore to prepare for one of the world's greatest ships to dock.
Little things matter. Before people climb Mt. Everest they may plan for years. Proper clothing, tools, food, technology, etc., must be studied, purchased, and understood. Photos of the mountain are studied. Histories of other climbers' stories are read for any information that will be helpful. Persons must exercise to prepare their bodies for the grueling hike.
In other words, lots of little things must be done before the hope of a dream to conquer a mountain can be realized.
If 2008 is to be a successful venture it must begin with paying attention to the little things. Little things can be corrected easily. Little things are not little when little things make possible big things. The crash of a multi-million dollar experimental plane was prevented because a person on board followed the electrical short and used a paper clip to patch over a connection. Little things are not always little!
Little things are particularly big things when little things keep things from running right and a little attention could make things run smooth. Little things are big things when little things are ignored in favor of frustration and failure. Little things are big things when character chooses bad behavior over responsibility.
Every person has little things in life that are interventions attempting to prevent success. Laila and I after 41 years of marriage constantly have to address little things to make sure they do not become big things that destroy dreams, shatter hopes, and lead to frustration. We have to remind ourselves to check the little things to make sure that we do what we can do to keep things running smoothly.
What I write to one, I write to all. Whether home, school, work, recreation or church. Make it a habit to check the little things. Be careful to be careful. Take note when things seem a little rough, and go over the plan again to check little things.
Here is the good news. When you have done what you know to do you can in good conscience expect the Lord to help you with the big things.
Remember: "Don't panic. Check the little things," Dad said.
Wanting you to have a powerful 2008!
Pastor Bare
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." Colossians 3:23