8 October | Youth
«And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.» John 20:5
There is a popular Brazilian children’s song that says, “one elephant bothers a lot of people.” We have been repeating this phrase since childhood. But, to tell you the truth, elephants haven't really disturbed my life. What really bothers me are small mosquitoes. Have you ever tried to sleep with one of them buzzing next to your ear? Or, perhaps, with a leak dripping in your room?
Truly, a small detail makes a big difference. Coach Pat Riley figured it out. He became famous for leading his team to victory in the NBA with a simple strategy: each player should improve 1% of their performance in each of the five fundamentals of basketball (shooting, passing, rebounding, dribbling and free throws). Since the team has 12 players, the team's performance improved by 60% during the championship, which guaranteed victory for Riley's team, the “details coach.”
Really, the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is the details. Why is a Mercedes so expensive and a Twingo so cheap? Don't both cars have doors, engine and wheels? Yes. But the difference is in the details. It is the balance between good taste, beauty and simplicity that distinguishes not only things, but also people.
If you stop to analyze, you will see that the most useful person is the one who cares about the subtleties of life. The way you greet others, the way you handle your own clothes after waking up or the way you treat a child. Details accompany us from the time we wake up to the time we sleep.
Worry more about the details of your marriage, work, home. Improve your friendliness and courtesy. Take care of your words and remember your tone of voice. Pay attention to your actions, but don't forget to smile.
Jesus was a master at taking care of details. After resurrecting, He was capable of even folding the clothes He wore to His burial. Ellen White wrote: “But it was the Saviour's hand that folded each, and laid it in its place. In His sight who guides alike the star and the atom, there is nothing unimportant. Order and perfection are seen in all His work” (The Desire of Ages, p. 789). Details are important and make all the difference. Think about this.