Australian singers and songwriters, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, have an award winning song that tells a story of justice in Australian history. The title and refrain is, “From Little Things Big Things Grow.” The story begins with a small moment involving a few unknown people that began a trajectory that made a significant difference for a whole nation.
It is a powerful reminder that anything of significance begins with one small moment. Even a fleeting thought, a heavy sigh, a moment of laughter, frustration, rejection, a nod from a wise mentor, or a single verse of poetry or scripture can take hold within us and make a significant difference in how we move forward in life. Continuing that direction over time has a wide reaching impact.
This is true with both the positive and the negative. One small act of good, especially when done repeatedly over time, can transform a life, a community, and even a nation. One small act of harm, especially when done consistently over time, can hinder growth, crush life, and have a ripple effect that impacts generations.
This is the power of the General Rules of the UMC, better known as the “Three Simple Rules” that we are focusing on in our worship series this month: “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”
Last week we talked about doing good. We were encouraged to “Glow” as we let our light shine by “doing good works that bring glory to God.” Even when those things seem small, we trust that God will multiply our efforts and bring about an even greater good than we can imagine.
But as I think of the places we often “do good,” it is striking that the need for good often comes from the fact that harm has been done first. A lot of our good work is in response to harmful actions, both intended and unintended, individual and communal, in the past or in current events, that have led to the need to do good and to stand for justice in that situation. That is true in the story told in this song. We are continually growing in our understanding of how to acknowledge the harm done, not add to it, and to do good in order to offer a correction.
So the Simple Rule of “Do no harm” is essential if we want to do more than spend our time and resources on more than simply undoing the harm that is done.
Our faith and following the way of Jesus invites us to life in which we think of more than our own wants and desires, more than our own practices and worldviews, or more than what others are doing. Jesus invites us to a life of self-examination, reflection, prayer, and wisdom, in which we “do no harm” to others and we work toward a society that “does no harm” to others.
Taking time to work on even one small way that we can reduce harm, can make a significant difference. If we each chose one thing and worked on it consistently over time, whether holding our tongue, forgiving a grudge, or examining our bias, imagine the impact it would have.
This work may seem small in some ways, yet, “from little things, big things grow.” If we first do no harm, and then do good, imagine the possibilities!
Blessings!
Pastor Suzanne