“The Little Way” 17 April 2008
Posted by jamesbutler in What we're reading..., What we're thinking about...Tags: daily, little way, prayer
trackback
I really like things that remind us to think of Jesus during the ‘normal day’; things like setting our alarms on our phones to midday to remind us to pray the Lord’s prayer. I also really like Mother Teresa’s saying “we can do no great thing, just small things with great love.” I know I always get stuck in this desire to do great things and forget about the day-to-day.
This week has been fairly quiet, and so a good opportunity to do some things I don’t normal have time for. One such thing was to take the opportunity to spend the morning on the Besom van. The Besom project receives furniture, appliances, clothes, games etc. which are in good condition from people who don’t want them any more, and hands them on to people who do. I was on the van for a couple of deliveries. It was a real privilege to be part of this small gesture of love towards a couple of people who really needed it.
This morning I was reading Richard Foster’s book, Prayer, and was challenged by another lady, Therese of Lisieux and her prayer-filler approach to life, the little way.
The little way… is deceptively simple. It is, in short, to seek out the menial job, to welcome unjust criticisms, to befriend those who annoy us, to help those who are ungrateful.
He goes on to say that the great thing about the little way is how accessible it is to everyone. It’s not some holy ritual, doesn’t require a special book, or special people, it’s just an attitude in everyday life, but one which changes us profoundly.
I think many people talk about a similar way of living, but it’s often as an evangelistic tool. If I love people it will lead them to Jesus, or it will allow me opportunities to talk about Jesus. Actually I think the key thing about the little way is it challenges our natural selfishness, it means that it really is about loving the other person, not that they might change, but that I might change.
HI.
I read an extended version of this article on the 24-7 site and it was very relevant to a situation I am struggling with.
How do you combine “It’s a challenge to show kindness to people however we feel about them” with these scriptures: “But I am saying that you shouldn’t act as if everything is just fine when a friend who claims to be a Christian is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends, gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can’t just go along with this, treating it as acceptable behavior. I’m not responsible for what the outsiders do, but don’t we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers? God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house. ” (1 Cor 5, form The Message)?
What do we do when a brother and a close friend is doing something which the New Testament defines as “unacceptable”?
Hi Rossi
Thanks for leaving a comment – I’m glad you found the article relevant. I guess I hadn’t really thought about how it spoke into that situation. I can see that this question isn’t about theory or theology, this is very real and very painful. I guess that within what Paul is talking about I would say I primarily saw the article talking about the “outsider” and not people in the church. Also I think the article is about things being less about me and more about others – hopefully my motivation becomes less selfish through the little way. It seems to me that your desire for your friend is not a selfish one, it is in fact very loving and generous. I guess I would say that being kind in that situation doesn’t doesn’t necessarily mean not saying anything. Jesus and Paul both talk about talking to people about their sin, and if that doesn’t work to take others too. I guess ultimately if they won’t listen we have to commit them into God’s hands and ask him to care for them and to bring them back to him. I think that the little way says that even though they may reject God and even us, that we can still show them kindness – not to tell them that they are doing the right thing, but to show that God’s grace means they are always welcome back.
I pray that God would give you great love, great patience and great wisdom.
Thanks James. And amen to your prayer.