Small and Seemingly Inconsequential Things

Small and Seemingly Inconsequential Things


I recently read that slot machines make more money than the film industry and major league
baseball combined. That fact surprised me, but it makes sense: even though slot machines only
take a few quarters at a time, because they are so addictive, those small and inconsequential
amounts of money add up to a lot!
 
I also recently read a research study released by Dscout where they set out to discover how
often we touch our cell phones every day. Dscout tracked 100,000 participants for five days,
capturing their in-moment behaviors. They captured every tap, type, swipe, and click and
reported that the average cell phone user touches his or her phone 2,617 times a day! I think
we can conclude that even though a touch only accounts for a second of our time, because cell
phones are so addictive, those small and inconsequential amounts of time add up to a lot!
 
Small and seemingly inconsequential things can actually end up making a significant impact.
 
What small and seemingly inconsequential things in your life have started to add up to too
much? Kids sports schedules, binge-watching TV shows, video games, overtime hours at work,
daily Starbucks drinks, social media scrolling, etc.? All these “little things” can add up to be big
things that end up steering us off course from what our heart desires and what our soul actually
needs.
 
The good news is that small and seemingly inconsequential things can also steer our life back
on track. How many hugs do you give a day? Would you be willing to write one encouraging
note a day? How about spending the first ten minutes of every day with the Lord? How about
reading one chapter of scripture a day? Can you make time to serve for one hour a week? All of
these “little things” can add up to be big things that fill and refresh our soul!
 
Are you willing to take a step back and observe how the small and seemingly inconsequential
things are actually impacting your soul? Do you find yourself always in a hurry, exhausted, and
seeking a break? Or do you find your soul at rest, refreshed, and connected to the Lord?
 
The small and seemingly inconsequential things add up to a lot and set the direction of our soul.
Are you willing to make some small and seemingly inconsequential changes for the benefit of
your soul?
 
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every
opportunity, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15-16)
 
Peace,
Nick