Small Steps

Resolutions or irresolution; we hear many opinions. You may also hear many statistics telling us that only about 7% will have kept their resolutions by the second week in January. You don’t even want to read a blog about resolutions! Neither do I. So instead I would like to advocate for small, feeble, steps throughout the entire year.

“God is waiting eagerly to respond with new strength to each little act of self-control, small disciplines of prayer, feeble searching after him. And his children shall be filled if they will only hunger and thirst after what he offers.”

Those are the words of the former Bishop of Edinburgh of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Richard Holloway. He is a controversial theologian; but I find this to be an inspiring statement.

To these words I would add that this means that God is waiting for every feeble step toward Jesus; for, our trajectory is everything. Moving toward Jesus may mean small steps in the direction of self-control, prayer, and searching. It may also mean small steps toward helping the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the widow, the orphan, and the spiritually lost. Small steps - that is all I can take. Small improvements to this world I have been given - by God's grace, that is all I can hope to achieve. Yes, I will be filled. I will be filled if I hunger and thirst. I will be filled if I hunger and thirst for these small steps toward a redeemed world.