SMALL

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

As Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland sings, "People walking around like the world is about to end, and if you're asking me, my mouth would agree, these days we all feel small, my friend."


WOW. I get it. I feel small compared to the challenges I see around me: discrimination, division, hatred, and sorts of the like. 


However, my faith tells me a different story. While we may feel small, we are precious in our Creator's eyes. In Luke 12:7, we can find solace: "Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 


This truth calls us to live as people who reflect God's love — not just for ourselves but for all of humanity. 


Earlier today, I was thinking about our nation's traditional motto: E Pluribus Unum, or "Out of many, one," which speaks to our collective calling. Our faith is not about erasing differences but honoring them. Our shared identity is not built on uniformity but on the beautiful mosaic of cultures, beliefs, and experiences that make us one people. 


To live out this tradition, we must listen across differences, include those who differ from us, welcome those who feel left out, seek reconciliation with those who have experienced the unjust hand of oppression, live out a Gospel-centered unity, build bridges, and contribute to a spirit of humility and respect — regardless of how countercultural or uncomfortable doing so might be. 


As Christians, we recognize the sacredness of unity amidst diversity. Micah 6:8 offers a clear roadmap for what this looks like in practice: "To seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." 


Seeking justice means caring for each person's dignity; loving mercy means extending grace and kindness, even when it inconveniences us or counters our neighbors' beliefs; and walking humbly means letting go of our self-righteousness and, instead, aligning ourselves with God's purpose. 


When we support a cause that serves the least of these — the hungry, the unhoused, the sick, the imprisoned — we seek justice. When we practice kindness in politically divisive conversations, we love mercy. When we push our political desires aside and focus on representing God's kingdom, we walk humbly. 


We do not have to become involved in the partisan politics of today to uplift those pushed to the margins, defend the least of these among us, and create space for every person's thriving. We are called to be peacemakers, bridge builders, and Gospel-driven beings. Jesus did not conform to the culture of his time. We should not conform to ours. 


Our collective story is still being written, and we each have a pen. I will never push aside the very real challenges that we face, but I will always cling to hope at the same time. We can be a living testimony to the truth that small actions — acts of justice, mercy, and love — can ripple out to create a better world. 


Let us hold tight to the promises of our Creator, who sees us in our smallness and calls us to greatness — not for our glory or our earthly nation's glory, but for His. 


While we do so, let us ask ourselves: When can I listen more empathetically? Who can I welcome with open arms? How can I build bridges with those who are different from me? As we take these small steps, we will reflect God's love and bring ourselves and others closer to Him. 

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