Small Catholic

Recently, I’ve been enjoying the musings of a Christian pastor named Ian Simkins over on Instagram. This one particularly struck me, so I’m going to quote the entire thing…

I recently learned the wild and fascinating origins of the “only green M&M’s in the green room” request…

Apparently the practice began with Van Halen. In their rider, they would request that all brown M&M’s be removed from their green room. People called them divas. But the reason for this is fascinating…

Van Halen had some pretty elaborate pyrotechnics in their show that required a lot of attention to detail to ensure everyone remained safe.

They included this request for all brown M&M’s to be removed so that they knew the specifics of their safety needs were also being taken care of.

If they walked in and saw brown M&M’s they knew they needed to go over the pyrotechnics plan again before the show to ensure everyone’s safety.

In fact, they would often put the line about the M&M’s at the very end of the rider to make sure the entire contract had been read through carefully.

It was kind of brilliant.

As strange as it may seem, when I heard this story it reminded me of the words of Jesus:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Lk. 16:10

The older I get, the more I realize that the little things actually are the big things. How you treat the waiter, your willingness to turn your phone off, your capacity to be truly present with someone…

Years ago I heard a Jesuit priest say: “How you do anything is how you do everything.” I think I agree.

It’s Peterson’s:
“Long obedience in the same direction…”

It’s Zechariah 4:10:
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”

It’s legendary coach John Wooden teaching his players how to put on their socks every season…

And when Wooden was asked about this, he simply replied, “The little things matter.”

I couldn’t agree more.

I’m obviously a believer in the importance of small things. AND I love the brilliance of using this concept to discern whether a person or situation needs extra attention or not! That’s an extra angle I hadn’t thought about when contemplating one of my favorite quotes about littleness from Mother Teresa –

“Small things, done in great love, bring joy and peace.”

And there is certainly peace and reassurance that comes from knowing that you’re in good hands with something really important. And of course it tells us something about the person we’re working with when they are attentive to little things and “little” people.

J.K. Rowling – “If you want to know what a man is like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

My pastor gave a homily recently about a nursing school professor who included the question “What is the name of the lady who cleans the hospital rooms?” on a really key exam for her students. Most students were not able to answer this question, but it made a big (and hopefully lasting) impression.

God specifically call us to littleness. The best definition I’ve seen of humility (also from my pastor) is recognizing that we are the creature and God is the creator. Among other things, this means that all the personal gifts and talents we have are from God and there’s nothing humble about denying their existence, failing to develop them or refusing to share them with others. (Even though there is imperfection and messiness in all three of those stages.)

Caryll Houselander – “There is, however, one big thing we can do with God’s help, that is, we can trust God’s plan, we can put aside any quibbling or bitterness about ourselves and what we are.”

And taking the concept a step further – it seems to me that littleness is an important part of how God works with us. I don’t think I had ever connected these two concepts in my own mind before, but it is often in little things and tiny miracles that I’ve noticed God’s presence and God’s help in my life. When I’m paying attention, these little things can remind me to trust Him in the bigger, more difficult things.

And obviously littleness was a HUGE part of God’s plan of salvation history! God came to earth as a BABY! I especially love how this is expressed in Philippians:

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance.
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord… (Philippians 2:6-11)

Also, we know from the history of the Bible and the saints that God often chooses “little” people (and even children, literally!) to do some great work for Him. I’m thinking especially of Mary’s call by the angel Gabriel. Perhaps it’s because they are less likely to let their ego get in the way.

So in an unexpected way, paying attention to the little things is one of the ways that we can be just a little (wink) bit like God.

This stained glass window of the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary is from the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. (photo courtesy of my husband)