Little by Little

An American lady once visited London and fell in love with and bought a run-down Victorian home in one of the neighborhoods. She hired an elderly gardener to do something with the jungle growing around the house while she concentrated on the interior with a small army of carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. 

Photo by Katherine Micks

Several months into the project she took a break one afternoon for a stroll around the house. She had not really paid much attention to what was going on in the yard and gardens and was astounded to note how beautiful the lush growth was becoming in the shaping and caring hands of the kind, elderly gardener. 

She asked the gardener his secret for such marked success in such a short time. He replied, "Every morning I come into the garden and stop, and whatever is at my feet, that's where I start to work." The value of just beginning and beginning with what is nearby. The action plan of little by little.

A college English teacher taught me that same concept. With a large research paper assigned, the Professor led the class through the process with step-by-step goals and assignments. I remember spending several consecutive Saturdays happily taking the subway to the main Chicago public library and working on a list of resources for my bibliography. Once that list of 3 x 5 cards was turned in and graded, we moved on to the next step (I'm dating myself; we didn't do any of this on a computer!). She taught in a very tangible way the value of doing a big project little by little. I remember feeling so energized by that semester's process. 

Where I have spent many little by little minutes practicing

Of course accomplishing goals as a musician is the same process. Learning a difficult or longer work happens little by little with hours, days and weeks of practice.

So much of life really calls for the little by little process. One doesn't become an expert in any area overnight, but over time with regular, thoughtful, input or work, study, or research. 

Children grow up to be responsible, contributing adults through years of patient, loving parenting and more that molds and shapes little by little. 

A marriage doesn't gain its golden edge until little by little a couple faithfully shares life's ups and downs and grows close and strong together. 

Clean-up after a natural disaster (I'm thinking of the storm system that has been over Haiti through the night), must begin at once, and it begins with many people removing debris, offering hope little by little.

But what about the watershed moments, the epiphanies of life? Those terms belie the truth that they are both wonderful, and occasional, even rare. And perhaps they often follow on the heels of times where little by little planted the seeds for the spectacular bloom. 

There is an interesting phrase in one of the Old Testament books, "do not despise the day of small things." A helpful mini-study on the phrase can be found here:  The Day of Small Things

Dawn is about to announce the arrival of another day here in my neck of the woods. What small things, what little by little processes will present themselves for my faithful response? This calendar year is half-spent. I pray that there are little by little plants of 2012 growing at my feet even now. 

You sense that tickling little vine brushing against your elbow too in your own garden? May God continue to bless our days of little by little as we learn to live in the moment and savor the sunrise on fresh buds and fully riotous blossoms. 

Two interesting passages of scripture that mention little by little . . . 

Deuteronomy 7:22

The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.

Proverbs 13:11

Dishonest money dwindles away,

    but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

MUSIC LINKS

Here's one of my recent little by little projects:

 

Domenico's and Joe's Happy Days  with Sonata in E Major by Domenico Scarlatti

The result of little by little? Peace, love, joy.

Peace Like a River - University of Utah Singers