Shade Tree Wisdom – small things 9/5/07

Richard Carlson in 1998 wrote a book with this intriguing title: “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff”. In it Dr. Carlson shows that it is really pointless to get upset over little things in life, like having to stop for a red light, or being the third in line at the grocery.

Let me try to show what he means by the story of two family outings.

Family one went on a picnic, to get together, to visit, to catch up, to spend time together. Kids were playing catch, throwing footballs, giggling together. Then they ate lunch together. After lunch while the mothers were sort of putting things together and talking one small, girl accidentally upset a glass that still had a bit of lemonade in it. The mother screamed at the girl, made a big fuss cleaning the spill, not really much, and fussing, berating the girl, calling her stupid and making a lot of noise. The girl sat there, head hanging down, tears streaming down her cheeks, till one aunt leaned over and spoke quietly to her, and consoled her. But when things quieted down, the family pretty well was gone in 20 minutes. That’s the Small Stuff Dr. Carlson means.

Another family also went on a picnic, same scene, people busy, playing, visiting, relaxing together, and mothers cleaning up after the feast, and a little girl spilled lemonade. This mother quietly took some paper towels and wiped up the spill, and talked calmly with her daughter, and things went on. That family did not leave till nearly dark. This mother knew how not to sweat the small stuff.

That is how I hope you treat the “small stuff” that happens to you all the time.

BUT, there is another kind of caring about small stuff. That’s the kind the artist who designed the Statue of Liberty in France as a gift to this young country had. On top of Lady Liberty, every hair is in exact place, each eyebrow is perfectly shaped. The artist knew that no one would ever see this, and yet he made it as well as his skill allowed. He never knew that with helicopters today anybody could see the top of the head of Miss Liberty.

That kind of caring is what a Christian does. Jesus once said, “Heaven & earth will disappear, but my Words will not disappear.” Matt 24,35. Jesus also said, “Till heaven and earth pass away not an iota, not one bit, of my Word shall pass away.” Matt. 5,18.

That sort of speaking puts a real weight to really knowing and doing His Word. St. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given out by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, for righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.” 2 Tim. 3, 16.17 And Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10,11, that everything in the Bible is written to teach us and to warn us against making their same mistakes.

That sort of speaking also gives short shrift to churches that ignore portions of Scripture teaching or say, casually, after all, that was written thousands of years ago.

So, when we study the Bible, let’s study it to gain insight for our life and our problems. That’s why a gracious God has given it. May this same gracious Lord bless your reading, and your doing.

GPD 9/5/07