From Jerry Sittser and his book ‘The Will of God as a Way of Life’:
Newsweek carried a series of articles in late 1999 telling the story of the twentieth century from eyewitnesses. One issue devoted to sports, telling stories of noteworthy athletes, amazing feats, unforgettable table moments, and great sports dynasties. One of the greatest of all dynasties in college sports was UCLA’s basketball program in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It’s team won ten national titles, including seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. John Wooden was the coach of all these winning teams. A Newsweek reporter asked him to reflect on the secret of his success. Rather than picking successful offensive plays, recruitment strategies, or perimeter shooting, Wooden provided a different perspective: “I think it’s the little things that really count.” Those little things could be very little indeed.
- The first thing I would show our players at our first meeting was how to take a little extra time putting on their shoes and socks properly. The most important part of your equipment is your shoes and socks. . . . It took just a few minutes, but I did show my players how I wanted them [to them on correctly].10
The apostle Paul took Timothy, his protégé, under his wing and showed him how to be a pastor. He realized the success of Timothy’s fledgling ministry depended on his attention to detail, so he wrote:
- Let no man despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love and faith and purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching, Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the counsel of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.11
I used to envy people with extraordinary talent. But not anymore. The type of person that impresses me now is the plodder who enjoys the doing of life. Plodders keep the world going. I appreciate pastors who preach solid sermons week after week, students who turn in their assignments on time, having done the best they can, and managers who strive for the success of subordinates. I admire coaches who care as much about the players as they do about the record, custodians who take pride in their work, and colleagues who show up for meetings on time. It all comes down to our attention to the little things.
Many of us will have fifteen minutes of Andy Warhol fame. We will receive a cherished award at work, win a game in last second, or see our photo in the paper. But for every fifteen minutes of fame we will spend hundreds of hours in routine. When I think about it, fifteen minutes of fame is not very long. If we are living for those fifteen minutes, we are not living for very much. It is the time spent studying, practicing, working, serving and sacrificing that counts the most. It is doing the little things every day that puts us on a trajectory of fulfilling the will of God. ~Jerry Sittser, the will of God as a Way of Life (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2000, 2004) p.91-93
