Little Things and What Truly Matters
By Christian
Recently, I have slowed down quite a bit, and in doing so, I am learning to take time to notice and ponder the little things that happen to me on a regular basis. It’s been like having an “extra eye.” It’s hard to pinpoint when this started or even if it was always there, but this has been a major change for me, as in the past, I have always been very “work oriented.”
A few days ago, I had to take some clothes to a seamstress who runs a tiny store in our area. I was between appointments, and as I was on my way there, I heard the Lord’s voice, “Ask her how she is—and then listen.” So, I did.
This opened the door for her to unveil the pain she has been feeling relentlessly in both knees for the past couple of months. She added, “It is getting worse and worse.” She is in her 60s and, combined with limited exercise and long hours sitting at her sewing machine, something had snapped and both meniscuses had ruptured.
We talked. I listened. And I closed by saying, “Sometimes things happen so we realize how fragile we are as humans and how much we truly need our Father’s help and healing. We’ll pray for you!”
I told my wife about this woman and we decided to pop in together so Cristina could talk with her and share practical advice and spiritual support, which she very much appreciated. I saw our Father’s hand in what had happened to my clothes, which created a window so we could discover her pain and struggle and bring her a bit of relief—most of all the assurance that she is loved and appreciated. It also showed me the importance of being present and not having a strict “agenda.”
As a child of God, as His ambassador, my calling is always in the forefront, to be there for the souls He brings across my path, no matter what errand I might be out on. That is my true reason for being alive.
I have the blessing to have my son Patrick (22 years old) still living with us. From time to time, I drive him to his metro stop so he can get to his job. It gives us some time together, and even though some mornings I feel like sleeping in, I look forward to those 15 minutes. We don’t always talk or may only have a brief exchange, but it means so much to both of us. This is one more confirmation that life is now, living in the moment!
On the way home, I sometimes pick up bread for our team. I treasure and look forward to the few minutes of talking and exchanging kind, faith-building words with the lady at the counter, the man from Bali working in the background, and even other clients waiting to be served. I can see they are happy to see me; they feel like they matter and are important, because they are. From time to time, I leave them with a copy of the Activated mag, pointing out some articles that inspired me.
I also always pop in the nearby flower shop for a few moments to greet the lady working there. We exchange a few words, and I generally leave her a copy of the latest Activated mag.
This morning, while walking back to my car, I stopped to have a few words with a middle-aged couple who were pushing a stroller. I had never met them. I could see their minds were filled with thoughts and to-do lists for the day, but then, before we knew it, we were chatting, smiling, and sharing a few uplifting words from our Father. This brought them back for a few minutes to the moment, the present, what truly matters. I said, “When you look at your son, it is like seeing a glimpse of what heaven is like.” It seems that peace filled their souls for an instant as they smiled.
Driving home I felt as if I were in a cloud of peace. This is when a story from the life of Saint Francis came to mind:
St. Francis of Assisi one day said to several of his followers, “Let us go to the village over the way and preach.” As they went, they met a humble pedestrian who was greatly burdened. Francis was in no hurry and listened carefully to his tale of woe.
When the village was reached, Francis talked with the shopkeepers, spent time with the farmers at their fruit and vegetable stalls, and played with the children in the streets. On the way back they met a farmer with a load of hay, and Francis spent time with him. The morning gone, the group reached the monastery from where they had set out in the early morning.
One of the followers, who was greatly disappointed, said to Francis, “Brother Francis, you said you were going to preach. The morning is spent and no sermon has been given.”
And the saintly Francis replied, “But we have been preaching all the way.”
Most of my life has been geared to and focused on my accomplishments—building works and projects, teaching, witnessing, and being very much on the front line. There is nothing wrong with these activities in themselves and surely there is a time for that, but as I’m aging, I can see how I was a bit off balance, which caused me to neglect some things that were also important. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church: “And yet I will show you the most excellent way” as a lead-in to the “Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 12:31–13:3).
This reflection was born out of my growing awareness that life is not only about grand achievements, but also about the quiet, often-unnoticed moments of each day, about understanding what truly matters—being present, attentive, and available to the people God places in my path. I am rediscovering that my primary calling is not to do things for God but to be His love to the world.
“Life is not about the destination, but about the journey” has become more than a cliché for me. It’s something I truly believe, manifested by the way I live my days—being less focused on my objectives and goals and more aware of the journey itself, the immediate moment, the present, so as not to lose track of what truly matters.
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