Life wouldn’t work without the little people
I was sipping my coffee as I watched the sun rise this morning. The smell of freshly brewed coffee is one of life’s simple pleasures. At TLC one of my primary jobs is making the coffee. Each morning thirsty pilgrims wander into our offices longing to hear Good News and find some comfort in a cup of coffee. It occurred to me that though I have consumed thousands of gallons of coffee in my life, I have yet to plant, harvest or roast even a single bean.
I was sipping my coffee as I watched the sun rise this morning, mostly taking for granted the little people continents away who labored in order to provide me with this, the first blessing of another day. And when the coffee farmer had completed the harvest, someone needed to drive those beans to an ocean going vessel. I could not help but wonder how many hands were behind that single cup of coffee.
I was sipping my coffee as I watched the sun rise this morning and I was reminded that LIFE WOULDN’T WORK WITHOUT THE LITTLE PEOPLE. Every day thousands of talented people do their work allowing us to live our lives. Their work might seem unimportant, their labor undervalued, and their service mostly unappreciated. Where would we be without ferry workers, air traffic controllers, road builders, house painters, grocery checkers, and garbage collectors?
I was sipping my coffee as I watched the sun rise this morning and I was reminded that life wouldn’t work without the little people. I am mostly lacking in practical talent. If you had to be marooned on a desert island you would not want me to be there. I write a little and talk too much. That’s about it. I possess a skill set that would not put a roof over your head, or keep you safe from wild animals. Pick a car mechanic, an engineer, a nurse, or a gardener and you will increase your odds of survival.
I was sipping my coffee as I watched the sun rise this morning and I was reminded that the sun comes up each day without any effort or thought of my own. God has masterfully given shape to creation, and it comes to us as a gift. In fact, everything is a gift. So I am going to try to be more grateful this year. I am going to live with an increased awareness of the blessings of creation, and of the (mostly taken for granted) labor of all the little people who allow me to live my abundant life.
I will see you in church this Sunday. As an honored member of the little people, I will make the coffee, turn on the heat, unlock the doors, write a little, and probably speak too much.
God is good, life is good, and we are Blessed to be a Blessing!
And all the little people said, “AMEN!”
Love,
Little Jim, pastor
