11/07/2023
Sitting around a fire pit in the cool of the evening with a group of dear friends, I began to lament the current state of our world. Others chimed in until we had a loud cacophony of, “Woe is us. Our world is doomed. Who are we to change the world? We’re just normal guys living in central Indiana.”
One of our band of brothers had a quizzical look in his eye that gave us all pause. “Wait a minute,” he said. “We might not be able to do anything to change what’s happening over there, but what about what’s happening right here? And isn’t there something about `the flapping of the wings of a butterfly can be felt on the other side of the world?’”
We weren’t too sure about flapping butterfly wings, but he did have a point.
I might not be able to directly affect the outcome of someone else’s child, but I can my own. I might not be able to curb the violence flowing out of another person’s heart, but I can curb what flows out of my heart.
Edmond Burke (1729-1797) once wrote that the strength of society is found in the “little platoons”—the family, circles of relationships. Those little platoons may appear to have little impact, but all it takes is one generation to pass on a legacy of valor, honor, duty, responsibility, compassion, and civility, and those values begin to take root and flourish.
It may not be flapping butterfly wings, but it is true that a global impact starts with local transformation. In order for a light to shine farther, it must shine brighter.
Consider how the Way of Jesus started with twelve followers (Mark 3:16-19) who multiplied to 72 (Luke 10:1) who grew to 120 (Acts 1:15) who expanded to 3,000 (Acts 2:41) and then to 5,000 (Acts 4:4) into a global movement today of 2.2 billion Christians.
The little platoons of the first century most likely never dreamed of how the seeds they sowed would reap a global harvest today. Robert Louis Stephenson wrote, “Don’t judge a day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you sow.”
The danger is that when we compare the small seeds we sow with the great harvest that is needed, we can very easily become discouraged and stop sowing the seeds. Quoting Burke once again, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”
Jesus said, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much” (Luke 16:10, ESV). Let us be faithful in the little things to make an impact on the bigger things in life. For truly what is bigger than joining Jesus on an eternal mission beginning in our own backyard…even around a firepit?
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38, ESV).
