John Senior, a Catholic writer and educator, in his beautiful, perspective-shifting book The Restoration of Christian Culture said, “Restorations never start at the collapsing top but always in the dull low places of simple hearts, not in the roaring of the wind but in the whistling of a gentle air.” In the dull low places. Simple hearts. These words made something inside me come alive – as if my father said to me, “Yes! You have a role to play!!”
But where do I start? What does this even mean? The current culture calls my role into question: nearly every picture or video shows the perfect family, the perfect vacation, the perfect cliff dive from 80 feet. Wow, I can’t live up to any of those! When I look at my life, I tend to see something quite different – imperfections, difficulties, and the monotony of daily life. I see my sins, wounds, and weakness. How do I reconcile this? It brings to mind the powerful moment, for me, in The Passion of the Christ: Jesus, as He was carrying His cross in agony, looks at His mother with His face bruised and bloodied and says, “See, I make all things new.” Jesus, is this true? In the midst of my sins and failures, monotony, amidst uncertainty, death, and crosses, you make all things new? Can you start here, in my heart? John Senior says YES! This is precisely where it must start! Not through a superhuman exertion of my will, but through the silent, mysterious inflow of His grace. In the quiet. In the dull, low places.
When I reflect on my life, the “go big” mentality has been a distraction from what is truly important. There is a lot of excitement in the big things, but the question is whether I have faith in the midst of the little things – the simple, daily tasks and events.
When we approach these little things with our full presence, we encounter hidden treasures. Not just to look at a sunset – but to receive it, drink it to the depths, attentive to how it moves the heart! In just a few simple moments. To be a child again. Walk slowly, feel the grass, the hot cement, the cool water. Sit and breathe, experience the reality of being, with a single breath! Let that present moment overtake every deception, distraction, and confusion that lies to us about reality. To take in another. To wash a dish. Lord, do these really matter? Washing a dish? Changing a diaper? Are these things distracting me from the important things, or are they the important things?
I have proof of the greatness of little things: I walked into my bedroom the other day while my 6-month-old son was sleeping on my bed. I watched Thomas with deep affection as his little body stirred, eyes flickered, and sleep gave way to consciousness. His eyelids fully opened to reveal these big, beautiful, round eyes. He looked around. His eyes scanned, searched, and then rested on my face, just a few feet from his. He took this in and analyzed it for a few moments. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he was trying to make sense of all he was seeing and experiencing. And then something clicked. His eyes lit up – and he smiled. Ahh… my heart burst! He saw me all over again, yet ever new. One simple, little smile – which conveyed something infinite. A lover and a beloved. This is what we are made for, what it’s all about.
If we were more present and receptive to the little things, what would life be like? If we could slow down enough to engage these simplest, smallest moments. God is to be found there – in the dull, low places. And this is the beginning of restoration for us, our family, and our culture.
Lord, please come in your mercy. Restore our hearts.
