The Little Things - Part 4
March 21, 2025
The Little Things Part 4
The infinitesimally small atom is made of even smaller subatomic particles, the smallest of which are its non-reducible quarks. Isn’t it amazing that when split, the tiny atom and its tinier subatomic particles unleash the most powerful energy known to humankind? It’s a paradox but the smallest creates the greatest.
This geophysical phenomenon reminds me of its spiritual equivalent, which Jesus explains in the following passages: Matthew 19:30, "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first," and Matthew 20:16, "So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
These passages reflect the paradox that in the spiritual life, largeness, dominance, and possession are not at the top as they are in the world. Instead, those who are humble and not in the limelight are most worthy—that which is least is largest, and what seems to be largest is least. The spiritual world is often counter-intuitive, especially when we look at it through the lens of the ego. Christ looked at it through the lens of the soul.
Being number one is a fascination of our culture. It’s wonderful to be the winner of a contest, or to come in first in a race. Yet if we view the other participants as losers, we exclude most of us. Why do we often compare ourselves with others to define our rank in life? And why are others’ opinions of us so important in shaping our opinion of ourselves? If we are attuned to the spiritual teachings of Jesus, why would we not be satisfied with ourselves instead of seeing ourselves from how others judge us? Why would we not be more interested in perfecting our souls against the inner standard of consciousness?
The answers to these questions stem back to the ego. The unhealthy ego is determined to feel loved, honored, and upheld. It does this by such things as accomplishing its story of how it thinks life should be, its connections, rank, accomplishments, visibility, influence, and number of followers. In many ways, each unchecked ego is driven to reach its ideal and it has its strategy to accomplish it. I often watch old movies on Turner Classic. I see the glamorous stars and imagine all the people who clamored to see them. Now these stars are gone. Many are completely forgotten. And even the clamorers are gone and forgotten. What did stardom give the stars who thirsted for it so, and what did the clamoring give the fans? Whatever it was, did it feed their souls? A famous quote about being a movie star, and a quote that puts stardom in spiritual terms is often attributed to Humphrey Bogart: “I don't want to be a movie star. I want to be in movies that are stars.”
It is rare to find those who feel loved, honored, and upheld simply because of their relationship with the Divine. These people may not be highly visible, and do not typically call attention to themselves. If they happen to be in high places, that is not where their heart is. They may have much or nothing, but they have everything. They are in another cookie jar than the stars and clamorers’ hands are in. These dear souls are fed by spiritual food. And they feed others from the same jar. These souls make up the Kingdom of God, which is spiritually the most powerful thing to unleash on humankind. And unlike the atom bomb, the Kingdom of God will save our species, not destroy it.
Spiritual practice: Try writing your obituary. What do you notice about what you pick out about your life to let others know you counted? What about you really makes your life count?
Dear God,
Let’s work on how I can know more fully that all I need is to know beyond all knowing, that I am your child in whom you are well-pleased. Amen
