First Baptist Church of Herndon

A Small Thing

Linda Soller | Jun 15, 2020

I’m tucked into my bedroom/craft room/temporary office trying to be extra quiet. Just downstairs my husband is conducting a virtual conference with 200 attendees. It would not be a good time for me to watch TV, empty the dishwasher, or play music. So, I am quiet. It’s a small thing but important. We find ways to coordinate our actions so we can both successfully telework, which neither of us did before all of this.

Outside on the street, with no sidewalks, neighbors for the most part walk on the correct side of the road. Most wear or have a mask handy for the occasional social distance snafu. We wave as we pass and greet each other. It’s a small thing but it makes our walks safer, more pleasant. We all know eventually we will retreat to our separate lives, spread out over the community, lose touch again.

Across the country people are protesting, starving, and struggling. They seek justice in a world of chaos. They attempt to feed their families in a world where food is destroyed because it can’t reach its normal markets. They fight to save their homes, their jobs. They wonder who will help. They gather to support each other, it’s a small thing in the big picture, but it gets the attention needed to bring help.

As we read the papers and watch the news we think, what can I possibly do? Each of us focused on our small inner worlds, living with our own challenges, fears, and resources. Some of us push past the “me first” mentality to try and bring change, most of us talk about it without ever taking a first step.  We have our reasons. But we can pray. We do pray. It’s a small thing but it can make the world different, better.

We can do this. Faith is an action word! :o) Linda