This morning, we are replacing the front door of Helder’s cabin. He originally used a solid wood door since he preferred natural materials. We are replacing it with a metal insulated door with full insulated glass. He loved the original wood, but “I also need to stay warm.” Helder says,

“Passerby, do you know how to tell an adult from a child? An adult shows up and asks, how can I help? A child shows up and asks, When do we eat?

• • •

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”

―Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Passerby,
Don’t underestimate the spiritual gift of helpfulness (1 Corinthians 12:28). Wisdom seldom asks great things of us but insists that we do what is in front of us to do. We need never go looking for ‘ministry.’ In my younger years, when I was engaged in ‘important’ things, She taught me to be careful that I walked around nothing or stepped over something in my path because it did not seem significant. This is a foundational kingdom principle. The kingdom is among us and is in us, as Rabbi told us. Going somewhere else cannot get us closer than we are. We do what is in front of us to do, always. There is no greater gift than helpfulness.

• • •

Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do with conspicuous things… as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value.

—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Passerby,
please stop me if I have told you this story.

I was having one of my busiest days. I had just come from HEM/ONC, where I was visiting patients receiving chemotherapy, and was on my way to do something else that was very important (in my mind, at least). I was in the service elevator lobby (so that I would not be disturbed by a patient) answering a text, intending to then duck down the stairs and on my way when I was approached with “Father, please.” (She knew I was clergy because we were all required to wear clerical clothing, including collar) I looked up, and walking up to me was a very small old woman holding a small paper medicine cup (like the ones they use to give you pills in) out to me with her two hands. She was under five feet tall, with grey hair in a bun, and was dressed to the ground in a grey house dress with long sleeves.

I was the palliative/hospice Chaplain directing a rather large program within a large organization, enjoying the appreciation of my superiors and the goodwill of my fellows. This was one of those days when I was busy but not frustratingly. I was feeling pretty good about myself; I was doing important work, and I felt honored that I got to do it. And I am sure anyone observing me could tell I was a male on a mission.

She continued in a thick Eastern European accent, “Father, A little water, please. I am so thirsty”. My first thought was to direct her to the nearest drinking fountain. My next better thought was, “That tiny little cup couldn’t hold more than a sip,” and “She is so beautiful.” Tears welled up. I replied (paying attention now), “Please wait right here. I’ll be back”. The Chemotherapy area has large cups, crushed ice, and a pitcher of ice water in the refrigerator. Returning with a cold drink of water appropriate in scale to the extravagant humility of the request and now intent on honoring the one who had asked, she thanked me, turned, and walked away. And, the Spirit said to me, “It is this. This is the Kingdom of God”.

• • •

It was so easy for me to get caught up in thinking that I was doing a good job, doing good ministry, and making a significant contribution to the “advancement of the Kingdom.” I commonly continue to make this mistake. The problem is that this is just not about me ever. And it’s not my work. Not ever. This is about the Spirit and what the Spirit has already done and is doing in establishing the Good Kingdom on Her Earth. Yes, I have a role in it. My job is to be available to what the Spirit is doing in the earth. And my job is to do what is in front of me to do. Stepping over or around nothing She has placed in my path.

Passerby, I could have missed it entirely. I mean, I could have missed my reason for being. I could have directed her to where she could have got a sip of water in that tiny paper cup and then ducked down the stairs on my way to accomplishing great things for God. I would have forever been the poorer for it. The Spirit said, “It is this. This is the Kingdom of God”, and She has never asked me to do anything more important than this one thing. From that point forward, nothing I ever did exceeded that one cup of cold water in significance.

Father, have Mercy.”