Small Things: the perfect gift for those made anxious by the news

Judging by my email’s inbox, everything is up to me.

If its tone is to be believed, the fate of the nation, our children, our forests, the Middle East, our schools — everything — all hinges on my response. My signature. My donation. My action. My prayers. My subscription. My money. My reposts on social media.

What a shock to the mind, then, to remind ourselves of Advent. I’ve been praying for Jesus’ hope a lot. Where is it? Why don’t I feel it? Why can’t I give enough, volunteer enough, pray enough to feel that hope? I sigh a lot now, too, and turn off the news and feel overwhelmed.

Advent, I need more this year than ever.

Over dinner this past week, the Arthurs and the Wasingers talked again about our commitment to small things. Are they enough, we wondered, all of us slouching in chairs in the Arthurs’ living room, tired. Meanwhile, the kids were in the basement rehearsing some bell-less version of “Jingle Bells.” Loudly. We’d had hot-and-ready pizza for dinner because that’s a love language of ours. Sarah and I were a couple hours into taking meds for headaches.

Yeah, small things are enough. It’s what we’ve got.

We hope in Jesus, who multiplies things like fish and bread and disciples. Maybe all our small things can increase in the same way. So: will you live like that’s true, even when we don’t feel it?

Small steps.

If you’ve read The Year of Small Things, engage us and other Small Things people in our Facebook group. Your questions are probably the same that others have; and there’s something about being weird together, right? We’re your cheerleaders.

If you’ve not yet read Small Things with other people, pick up a few more copies this season. Start the discussion. Find your people. Do the things. 

Oh, and we especially recommend our book for that person you follow on social media who can’t help but repost 76 links each day, all with headlines that scream, “SIGN NOW OR YOU OBVIOUSLY DON’T CARE ABOUT THE EARTH/ POOR PEOPLE/ CHILDREN/ SPIDER MONKEYS.”

Small Things might just be a relief to them — and their Facebook friends.

Small Things is available online:

Peace, friends.

(And hope, friends.)