02/09/2022 Principal's Note

I was searching for some inspirational quotes to use in my message today, and I came across this one by Beau Taplin, who is apparently an author/poet of some sort (don't ask me anything else about him; I have no idea): "Whoever says the small things don't matter has never seen a match start a wildfire." I also stumbled upon this one from Vincent Van Gogh (him I know!): "Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." Both quotes have the same basic idea: we often underestimate the impact something small may have on the big picture. 

Let me give you a ridiculous, over-exaggerated example. The CEO of a multi-billion dollar company forgets to stop and get creamer for his morning coffee on the way home from work one evening. Not a big deal, right? The next morning, he wakes up like usual, but when he goes to have his coffee, there is no creamer. He can't drink black coffee, so he rushes out the door, planning to stop at the local coffee shop on the way to the office. It's finally almost his turn at the counter after a long wait when he looks at his watch and realizes that he is going to be late for a huge acquisition meeting that has the potential to increase his company's revenues by 20%. He forgets about the coffee and runs back to his car. He arrives at his office, irritated and exhausted, with no time to stop in one of the break rooms for a cup of coffee. Bursting into the conference room, he finds a seat next to the representatives from the target company as the presentation begins. Before long, he is yawning and closing his eyes. The lights come up, and those next to him see that he is fast asleep. They wonder why their company means so little to him, so they break off the acquisition and go elsewhere. The board of directors begins to question whether the CEO has what it takes to raise the company to the next level. All of this because of some missing creamer; little things can have a big impact!

If you want some real-world examples that seem like they should be considered ridiculous and over-exaggerated, look in the Bible. Here are just a few of the headlines: "Tens of Billions to Die Because Couple Eats Apple (Genesis 3);" "Young Men Mauled by Bears After Mocking Old Man's Haircut (2 Kings 2);" "Family Disagreement Leads to Salvation for Egypt During Famine (Genesis 37-45)." Seemingly insignificant, everyday events that had huge consequences because God, in his infinite wisdom, uses any and all situations to accomplish his holy and perfect will. Here is one more example: God used the death of one man to bring salvation to all people, past, present, and future. To put that one death in perspective, some extremely intelligent people at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., estimate that some 107 billion people have ever lived on earth, with about 7 billion of them alive today. That means that around 100 billion people have died so that one death is 0.000000001% of the total deaths that have occurred. Seemingly insignificant, until you remember that it was Jesus. Never underestimate the God who would send his own Son to die in your place.

Without intending to sound cliche, I hope you appreciate how even the little things you say and do impact those around you, especially your children. They are always watching and listening. Take the time to attend church together, where they can learn about all the ways God has used all of history, big and little things alike, so that they can be in heaven one day.

Have a blessed extended weekend!

In Christ,

Principal Bill Fuerstenau