Learning to Think Big

Years ago I wrote a poem. Can’t remember all of it, but I know there was a line that quipped,

“…Small town people, always thinkin’ small time, running down others with their small, small minds.”

Yes, I live in a small town. The poem emanates from frustration with characteristic chit-chat that both endears and makes small town living arduous and you can see I was going with it...

And, though it was years ago and I was likely thinking in a secular manner when I wrote the words, I think I was on the right spiritual track.

I believe as Christians, our thinking is often too small.

I am now a senior in college working to finish my undergrad degree. The disorganization that is sometimes my mind evidences in my method of choosing and taking college classes. This semester, having finished most all of my required classes, I’m stepping backward and taking an Intro to Religion Class. I’ve already had the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics classes and this particular session is giving me the framework that might’ve made those classes less challenging.

Anyway, during the early days of the class we were asked to describe qualities of God. Several of us listed the attributes we thought most important, but our instructor told us to think more deeply. After further study we offered the word ‘transcendent’ and it was the answer our instructor was looking for. Transcendent is described as “…beyond and outside the ordinary range of human experience or understanding,” and worked because it encompasses many of our other descriptors in one attribute.

In other words, God is big and we were thinking too small. God is larger than we can fathom or imagine in the human mind.

I remember my publisher quoting in a phone call, I Timothy 1:14 when “Plenty Good Room” was still in manuscript form. She recited, “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” This is partially where the title of the book came from. And, it reminds that God’s love and His kingdom is large. The second verse behind the title of the story is “In my Father’s house there are many mansions.” This reminds again that God’s house is the ‘big’ house. It is inclusive. Open to all who love Him and love their neighbor. In Matthew 11:28 this sanctuary for all is offered in this Scripture, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

It’s important to remember God’s love is not exclusive.

The popular song fashioned from 1 Chronicles 4:10, is taken from the prayer of Jabez to God, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!” When singing the words, “...Enlarge my territory,” like Jabez most often we are praying for expansion of success. We are asking God for greater material wealth and gain. But, we must not forget the ‘territory’ often needing the greatest expansion is the one within.

And, so let’s begin to pray, “…God, make me a larger person. Don’t let me be petty and small-minded. Keep me from paying back negative or unfair treatment in kind. Expand my thinking. Expand my capacity for giving. God, expand my capacity to love. Let me reflect the grandness of your spirit in my actions. God let me reflect you.” And as written, “…Enlarge my territory. Oh, Lord Bless me. Indeed.”

What bigger blessing and what better way to be a blessing than to reflect our Father God in our actions.

And, that means, thinking big.



To begin a walk with God...