Today’s scripture: 1 Samuel 17:33-51 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Terri Brown):
The book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, is one of the best books in the U.S. on the subject of how to maintain happiness and reduce stress by not letting the small things in life get the best of us. Yet, I have found that happiness is often found by using those small, seemingly insignificant events in life as the “baby steps” for growth and transformation. For me, finding gratitude with simplicity or recognizing the molehill next to the mountain or viewing tiny obstacles as blessings in disguise has empowered me to give others the acknowledgement they may need or to provide acceptance for the misunderstood or to smell roses in a bed of fertilizer.
1 Samuel 17:33-51 provides the account of the story which many of us remember from childhood, referred to as “David and Goliath.” This Bible passage compares large to small and great to insignificant, which has become more compelling to me as an authentic and realistic outlook on life. David, the youngest son of Jesse, tended sheep while the older brothers were called to fight in the king’s army against the Philistines. The Philistines, a larger race of people, had a bigger army. This young boy comes into the picture only because his father asked him to deliver some items to his older brothers, one of whom sees David in the camp and warns him to not even think of going after Goliath, the giant whom everyone fears.
David had not planned to accept the challenge, but God had chosen him from birth; so the stage is set. God indeed blesses the big and the small, like tiny blades of grass, tall oak trees, small stones, wide rivers, a young boy who was unable to walk in the large, heavy suit of armor given to him by King Saul, AND a very large man who seemed to be a giant as he towered over the smaller boy facing him with just a shepherd’s staff and a sling shot. Goliath even taunted David’s size and apparent lack of experience by asking if David thought that he, Goliath, was a dog and this stick (the slight David) was sent for him to easily defeat.
As the story ends and Goliath is killed by one small stone (from the “five smooth stones” that he pulled from the river) which David skillfully aimed at that vulnerable spot, David then took the giant’s sword and beheaded him, diminishing his height.
Now those Five Smooth Stones, also a book written by Ann Fairburn in the 1960s, has great significance as a small paperback, placed into my hands as a teenager. The main character, also named David, participates in the civil rights movement. His story includes law school, interracial relationships, and violence.
As a child, I would not make any considerable impact on the civil rights movement of the time, but the words on those pages resonated with me; and over the years I found myself involved in situations which developed into causes which would eventually change the lives of many. I realized my one voice may be ordinary and my existence insignificant. But often situations or events from the past — babysitting jobs, people in my neighborhood, part time jobs, volunteer opportunities, former spouses, people waiting in line, or a friend of a friend (often times I felt uncomfortable and challenged but a small voice urged me on) — created transformation opportunities and small steps on a path towards some type of reform and progress in changing education, legislation, health care, or the rights of citizens.
Thought for the day: Many of us have dreams of changing the world. Some of us have opportunities to make small changes in our own little corner of the world. God gave all of us challenges in order to use even small circumstances for creating moments of thanksgiving and happiness.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.