The Power of Small Things

There seems to be a trend in technology: nano.  Everything smaller, thinner, and powerful.  We even have the Ipod nano.  Growing up in Gaithersburg, MD we had the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST).  Many people from my home church worked there and one gentlemen even had a PhD in nano technology.  He would tell me about things working on sub atomic levels!  I  have a netbook computer that is small enough to fit into my pocket of my cargo pants.  We are coming out the era of “bigger and better” that we inherited from the 1950’s where cars were as big as boats and ladies had big hair.  We are entering into the age of “small things”.

In our two lectionary passages this week, we see that there is power in small things.  First, we have 1 Samuel, where Samuel is grieving over King Saul’s removal from power.  God instructs Samuel to invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice.  One of his sons would become God’s anointed and would lead all of Israel.  As the sons of Jesse are presented and none of them, not even the oldest, was the one that would be anointed.  There was one son missing, David who was the smallest and the youngest.  He was ruddy (my nickname), handsome, and full of life.  You can imagine the shock that the brothers and their father felt when Samuel anointed the smallest and youngest son.

In our second passage, we find in Mark 4, Jesus is comparing the ability of a small muster seed to grow into a mighty plant to the amazing nature of planting seeds of spiritual growth within people and reaping the enormous spiritual benefits within the Kingdom of God.  I always thought it was funny that Jesus talked about “shrubs”.  When I think of shrubs, I always think of Monty Python and the evil knights who say “Ni!” asking for shrubbery.

ARTHUR: O Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return with a shrubbery.

HEAD KNIGHT: One that looks nice.

ARTHUR: Of course.

HEAD KNIGHT: And not too expensive.

ARTHUR: Yes.

Okay, so that didn’t have a whole lot to do with small things, but the muster seed grows into the greatest plant or shrub.  We tend to look at things and see inadequacy, but God sees greatness.  God sees what we cannot see.  God sees the inside, but we only see the outside. We may only see a little boy, but God sees a mighty king.  We may only see a little seed, but God sees a spiritual seed growing into spiritual greatness.  We need to seek the power of small things in God.

What am I overlooking in my life?  What spiritual seeds am I planting?  Who are the “little” Davids in my life?  How can I begin to see inward to see what God sees in people?