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“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa If you know me, you know I am not a sports fan. But I do have an interest in unusual bits of trivia—factoids, you might say. Last month, I learned another one. Most of you know who Jackie Robinson was. He is widely credited with breaking the “color barrier” by becoming the first Black Major League baseball player in the 20th century for the Brooklyn Dodgers, even though Moses Walker had debuted sixty-three years earlier with the Toledo Blue Stockings as a catcher. Robinson started for the Dodgers in April, 1947, playing first base. His first hit in the majors was on April 17 of that year. Although he would go on to win the National League batting championship in 1949 with a .364 average and achieve a lifetime average of .311, Robinson’s first hit in the majors was less than spectacular. He’d hit a fly ball in the first inning but he was still in search of his first real hit. Finally, in the fifth inning, he bunted down the third base line and got to first base. That’s right, a hit that made history . . . was a bunt. He didn’t hit a line drive into the bleachers. He didn’t knock it out of the park. He gave it a nice, firm tap. But that was enough. He could have sent it to Mars. There could be guys with telescopes looking for it to this day. But even if there were, it wouldn’t have been any more historic. By making the first Major League hit by a Black ball player, Robinson sent a baseball into history. That’s because sometimes small things can be just as significant—if not more—than big things. Jesus told a parable about a mustard seed (Matt. 13:31-32). A tiny seed became a whole tree, big enough for birds to nest in it. He likened such a seed to the “Kingdom of Heaven.’” Earlier, he had told his disciples, “‘And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.’” (10:42 New Living Translation). I believe we can turn that around and say that we don’t necessarily need to serve other disciples, we need to be disciples. And in so doing, we will likewise receive a reward. One day, Jesus and his disciples were across from the treasury when a poor widow put in two small coins (Mark 12:41-42). He said to the disciples, “‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.’” (vs. 43b NLT). Others might have contributed more but she made an impact through her attitude in giving that went beyond the amount of her gift. As far as we know, Jesus didn’t say anything to his disciples about anyone else or his or her gift, just the widow and her two small coins. When the crowd was hungry, Jesus told the disciples to feed them (John 6:5). Andrew, Peter’s brother, found a boy who had a few barley loaves and a couple of fish (vs. 8-9); no one thought it would be enough (vs. 9). But Jesus fed everyone with even more left than when they started (vs. 12-13). I strongly suspect that boy probably had no idea the impact his simple lunch could have or that God would use him in that way. Jesus told his disciples that someday “the King” would say to them, “‘I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. . . .’” (Matt. 25:35a NLT). They would respond, “When did that happen?” (vs. 37b, 38, 39 paraphrased). And “the King” would answer, “‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” (vs. 40b NLT). None of the things Jesus talked about were remarkable: Giving someone food or drink, welcoming a stranger, giving someone clothing, visiting someone. But they were all acts of compassion. It doesn’t need to be huge, it just needs to be done. Jesus’ commission to Peter wasn’t “change the world,” it was, “‘feed my sheep.’” (John 21:17b). And yet, we can change the world in small ways by following Christ’s command. We can impact lives and, in so doing, change someone’s world. We can change history for a soul heading in the wrong direction. “‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.’” (Matt. 13:31b-32 NLT.) |
