08.15.07
The Value of Small Things
The Value of Small Things
Taken for granted
In life, it is but normal to take the small things
for granted. This is natural as they do not seem
to stand out, their very size makes them almost unseen,
and their value is usually commensurate to its size.
But, when seen from a certain perspective and context,
a small thing can mean a lot. Those involved in
customer service know this very much. They look at
the smallest details so that their client or customer
does not feel neglected, or their feelings hurt, or
may experience offense from a careless remark about
them. When customer relations management is carefully
taken care of, then customers will be satisfied and
happy - especially if their “little” needs are taken
care of.
A thousand pennies is still a thousand pennies
Pennies are small amount of coins. And a thousand
pennies, even though they may be a thousand, will
still remain pennies. But this is because we look
at them from the context only of pennies. Imagine if
a person has $999,999.99 in amount of pennies. If
we continue with our thinking as with the thousand
pennies, then we will also say that though $999,999.99
is big, it is still worth the same amount in pennies.
This is because we look at the value from only a
material point of view. But if we balance our
perception, if we broaden our understanding, and
if we look at the whole piece of paper rather than
the ink blot, then we will see something different:
it lights up our way of looking at the $999,999.99
pennies. When we add that one penny that will make it
a million dollars, then that will spell a much big
difference in value.
A Catholic articles web site is like one penny
A Catholic articles web site or web log is like one
penny. But if it is the penny that will make the
Catholic faith worth a million dollars “in a spiritual
sense” - meaning of monumental value, then that one penny
will be vitally important. So, small things mean a
lot. And this is what St. Therese of Lisieux always
reminds us with her way of life: every little thing
she does, she does with great love. Translated in
a material sense, every penny we pick up and save
will be the penny that will make the Catholic faith
worth more than “$999,999.99 in just pennies”. So
don’t underestimate the value of a penny. And don’t
take for granted and underestimate the value of a
Catholic articles web site or web log. That just might
be the “penny” that will make the world of the internet
a world of peace - the peace that John Paul II has been
in mission for during his whole pontificate.
