The theme of this past week has well aligned with Mother Teresa's quote, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." I felt God urge me in such a direction as my week progressed into less and less of what I had hoped and planned for. 

 

Seeking a week to connect with my new housemates, I was left feeling frustrated and disappointed missing out on two meals and a Saturday worth of adventures overcoming a mysterious flu-like bug. Perhaps the planning and preparation had caught up with me, and God knew the only way for me to rest was to ease me into a week of undeniable exhaustion. Whatever the cause, God reminded me over and over and over again that it wasn't about the big moments I thought I was missing, but to focus on the small moments I experienced of great love.

This showed itself to me in many ways in the past week. Fresh coffee made in the morning by a housemate, so I didn't have to, awakened me on a morning I had a hard time waking up. A generous donation and kind gesture of a volunteer alumnus helped me treat the Rockcastle county communities to pizza on the night I felt too feverish to cook. Friendly text messages from my housemates reached me beyond the walls I had quarantined myself in, making sure I was still breathing and wishing me well. Finally, there's the drive home from the weekly grocery run when my housemate and I connected over our amazing grandma stories, of ones deeply loved and sorely lost.

To lather the icing on the cake, or so to speak, one of my housemates led a devotion on this very topic tonight. Reflection and conversation led us to share where we were four years ago, and which possible "small things" led us to share in this experience now together. Similar small moments of great love will connect me to the present, leading onward into my future to whatever happens next. As we reflected as a community, so can you: What small things led you to where you are today, and how can you keep your focus on doing small things with great love?