What is Your One Big Thing?

The Greek Poet Archilocus said, “the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” The fox is a quick, sleek and smart animal. It has many resources. The hedgehog however, is slow and stodgy and has only one big resource—persistence.

 

Sometimes the hedgehog reaches its goal before the fox because, unlike the fox he’s not distracted by its many options.

 

Its been said that the great saints—great souls are people with a very simple belief system. They were hedgehogs—they remained focused on one big thing.

 

For Mother Teresa it was quenching the thirst of Jesus who was disguised in the poorest of the poor. For Pope John Paul II, it was reminding us of our human dignity, bestowed upon us by God. For Father Frank Pavone it is defending the sanctity of life. For me, it is serving those who serve the Young Church.

 

You may not know what your one big thing is. But you do know one big God. And when you are consumed by God, his Spirit will work through you in a particularly amazing and contagious way. It may take  a lifetime, but you'll get there. A hedgehog always reaches their goal because they are consumed by one big thing.

 

What’s your one thing? What could you accomplish if you were consumed by it? What could God accomplish through you if you were consumed by Him?

Comments

[Leisa A. Hammett]

Nice. Especially like the Mother Teresa reference.

[Roy Petitfils]

Thanks Leisa!

[Stephanie Clouatre Davis]

Hey, this is pretty random... Have you heard of the evangelical preacher Rob Bell? I'm not like a super-supporter, but I peruse his stuff. One if his video's uses Kierkegaard's "A Saint is someone who wills the ONE THING." Check this video... I could only find this version on you tube, but you get the point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KJ4p_mfi18

[Roy Petitfils]

Rob keynoted a YS conf. 5 yrs ago and he was pretty good. His article in this months Youthworker is awesome. I'm getting ready to check out the video link. Thanks for posting that for me! Can't wait to catch up!

[Christopher Meaux]

There's a great scene from the first City Slickers movie wherein Palance's character tells Crystal's character that "the meaning of life is one thing," and then raises his finger.

It's on YouTube, but you might need to find the clip without the cursing. Great article!

[Roy]

I remember that scene. You're the second person to tell me about that movie/scene. Thanks for reading Chris and taking the time to comment.