In the movie The Fellowship of the Ring, Galadriel tells Frodo, “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future”, and it really got me thinking about the impact we have on the world. It’s easy for us to see CEOS and politicians calling the shots and making big changes in the world and think that what we do is pretty insignificant compared to them.
This reminded me of when I went through the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish with Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). If you haven’t heard the story, a boy gave Jesus five loaves and two fish, and Jesus turned it into food for thousands of people.
I’m not sure how we picture five loaves and two fish, but it was probably not five twelve inch loaves and two salmon. According to BSF, the five loaves were likely small flatbread, and the fish would have been small, perhaps anchovy or shrimp sized, to add flavor to the bread.
Obviously, you can’t feed thousands of people with one boy’s lunch. Jesus could probably make bread rain from heaven if He wanted to do so. Why was the boy involved? I have no idea. He probably just wanted to help.
But the little that the boy had was enough. It was enough because Jesus was involved.
We are not enough, I can tell you that. We are not enough, yet when we follow what God calls us to do, big things begin to happen. We may be small, but we’re making and giving away hundreds of care packages to those in need. We may be small, but somehow we’re hosting a Christmas dinner for refugees that practically outnumber our own congregation.
Even the smallest change can alter the course of the future for one person. What we do might not change the world, but if God is in it, He will make the little we have and do enough.