I really like things that remind us to think of Jesus during our ‘normal day’.  Things like setting our phone alarm to midday to remind us to pray the Lord’s Prayer or listening to a podcast on the way to work.  I often think of what Mother Teresa said: “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, showing love in the small things.

A couple of weeks ago my work was fairly quiet, and so it was a good opportunity to get involved some things I don’t normal have time for.  I spent a 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.

I have also been reading Richard Foster’s book Prayer. Foster mentions another lady who really challenged me. Therese of Lisieux had a prayer-filler approach to life which she described as "the little way".  Richard Foster wrote that “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, it doesn’t require a special book, or special people, it’s an attitude in everyday life accessible to young and old, weak or powerful.  It’s a challenge to show kindness to people however we feel about them.

I think it’s one of the biggest challenges we can face.  

It seems to me that a lot of what we do, our great things for God, are often about being noticed or proving our own worth.  We are seeking people’s approval in “winning souls” and increasing our numbers or being thanked for our great deeds.  Even in our ‘friendship evangelism’ the goal is still evangelism and not just showing love.  Perhaps this is just me, but I often need to remind myself that ministry isn’t about me.  The little way seems the perfect way to counter this attitude in my life.  Just like my mobile phone buzzing in my pocket reminds me to pray, so receiving criticism or being annoyed reminds me to show kindness.  

My trip out on the Besom van reminded me to focus beyond what I was working on to see the opportunities to serve right on my doorstep.

Richard Foster goes on by saying that Therese of Lisieux’s sister irritated her in everything she did.  But instead of ignoring her or distancing herself from her sister, Therese said, “I set myself to treat her as if I loved her best of all.”  She succeeded. When she died her sister said of Therese that “She loved me best of all.”

The little way 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.