Small Things Add Up (Bot9 #361)
On our trip to Europe this summer, we went to the BMW Museum in Munich. It’s important to note that I am not a “car guy” (as evidenced by driving the same truck for 19 years as well as a PT Cruiser for a short time as well). Cars are not something that spark a passion in me. The museum is a tremendous collection of the company’s history, as well as a presentation of their present and future. While walking in a wing dedicated to the latter, I ran into a display for the Rolls Royce Phantom Extended Series II. Now I don’t consider myself someone who is easily impressed so hopefully the next statement doesn’t come off as hyperbole. That was by far the most impressive car I have ever seen. It appears to be a perfect example of craftsmanship down to every detail and, for a price tag of $800,000, it better be!
Near the area displaying this exquisite vehicle was a quote from Henry Royce, one of the founders of the company. It read with white letters popping off a black background, “Small things make perfection, but perfection is not a small thing.” Looking at an extraordinary vehicle bearing his name, I could see this as a physical manifestation of all the small things and details coming together to create beauty.
Royce quote appears to be a very simple twist on something Michelangelo once said - “Perfection is no small thing, but it is made up of small things.” Both of these influential men, both craftsmen, both creators shared a similar idea. It takes the culmination of many small things to make something perfect.
This thought brought me back to a talk Rob Bell once gave titled “Everything is Spiritual.” I’m not going to go into the complicated story of Bell’s fall from grace in ministry circles, but rather focus on this five minutes of that talk. It’s one of my favorite five minutes to consider as we think about the many small things that give us the opportunity to live on this beautiful created Earth. Indeed we live because of the combination of so many things we don’t even consider on a daily basis.
There are 5 S’s I’ve asked our athletics team to consider over the past year before each meeting. These are the dials we can monitor and use to create a masterpiece out of each and every day. To no surprise, each are found in the Scriptures:
Stillness (Psalm 46:10, 1 Kings 19:11-12) - Late in the summer, there were two devotions from Our Daily Bread focused on silence and quiet. The first spoke of a room in Minnesota that absorbs 99.9% of sound. I found it fascinating that no one has been able to spend more than 45 minutes in that room because of how disorienting it is. The second focused on a town in West Virginia where none of the 142 residents have access to Wifi because of a nearby telescope. It’s one of the most technologically quiet places in North America. What are you doing to pursue stillness and a quiet spirit on a daily basis?
Sleep (Genesis 2:2-3, Mark 6:31) - My family can attest that I could be a professional in the area of sleep. I know how to shut my body down and fall asleep and I feel blessed knowing how difficult this simple thing can be for so many. How is your sleep? What are you doing to find both spiritual rest and a good night’s sleep each day?
Sweat (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Timothy 4:8) - I’ve spend a lot of time recovering from a fall down some stairs (Looney Tunes style) in the spring of 2021. That journey has helped my back get aligned properly, my knees recover to a place of functional health, and new freedom in lifting weights and movement. I’ve done the focused work of carving out time in my day to prioritize sweat. I’ve seen others doing the same through their workday. While it’s important to encourage young people to get their workouts in to improve, it’s just as vital for us to model this as a lifelong opportunity.
Social (1 Corinthians 1:10, Acts 2:44-47) - The continuing trend of isolating ourselves from our communities through available technology, denies us of opportunities to meet so that we can continue to be united in mind and thought as 1 Corinthians 1:10 says. Getting together in small groups over a beer or glass of wine and commiserating over a group of people we don’t agree with isn’t hitting the mark here. The spirit of social is certainly joy and fun, but it’s unity. When you find these opportunities for good social outlets, I have to assume some wonderful things happen.
Structure (Isaiah 61:3, Genesis 1) - I find God’s ability to bring beauty from the broken, to create order from chaos, to be one of the most amazing abilities our Creator possesses. Maybe it’s because I reflect on my own life and failures and know that there’s no way I could accomplish such a feat. Only the Lord can. Now, at the same time, He’s also gifted me with the ability to organize and create structures where those on a team can thrive with a clear understanding of their role. This is such a cool part of being a leader and coach.
Lastly, in addition to the 5 S’s, practicing presence is where it all comes together. Be where your feet are. Don’t focus on the problems of the past (Psalm 103:12) and don’t focus on the future (Matthew 6:34). As we begin to realize the power of these small things, we submit ourselves as created beings to the Creator. Why do the 5 S’s and presence have such a profound effect on our days? Because we are created and designed to thrive in this place for a good work beyond our comprehension. We are God’s created masterpiece, His unique workmanship (Ephesians 2:10 NLT, Psalm 139:14). We are perfect in His sight, greater than all other created things. A Rolls Royce will fade and rust with time. Michelangelo’s art will dissipate without constant maintenance. This world, too, will fade away. Taking that to heart with humility will allow us to allow others to grow exponentially. As we begin to grasp these truths for ourselves, let us treat our student-athletes like the masterpieces they are as well. What a joy it is to be an example of someone else’s perfect craftsmanship.