You ask, “Shouldn’t I be doing something?” Of course that is necessary. Do whatever falls to your hands, in your circle and in your situation—and believe that this is and will be your true work; nothing more from you is required. It is a great error to think that you must undertake important and great labors, whether for heaven, or, as the progressives think, in order to make one’s contribution to humanity. That is not necessary at all. It is necessary only to do everything in accordance with the Lord’s commandments. Just exactly what is to be done? Nothing in particular, just that which presents itself to each one according to the circumstances of his life, and which is demanded by the individual events with which each of us meets. That is all. God arranges the lot of each person, and the entire course of life of each one is also His all-good industry, as is each moment and each meeting.

— St. Theophan the Recluse from The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned to It

My oldest son graduated today from one of the finest institutions of learning I have ever known. It lives in the shadows of other better known institutions and is lesser known because of its small size and relatively short existence. Other institutions pride themselves on their acceptance rate for graduating seniors, their rejection rate of lessor mortals desiring admission, and their overall ability to graduate products of an educational system that are worthy of fame and fortune. My son’s institution (and now his alma mater), St. Herman of Alaska Christian School in Boston, MA does not graduate products but persons, persons made in the image and likeness of God. And the goal of their program is not mere intellectual excellence; they teach their students above all to love God and keep His commandments.

                In this season of graduations and graduation speeches, the air gets thick with injunctions to self-actualization and calls to save the world. Each speaker seems to be in competition to promise bigger and bigger dreams that lead to greater and greater prosperity and success. At St. Herman’s, the focus is on a much more ultimate goal, an eternal end. In the words of her headmaster, Fr. Patrick Tishel, “Our final destination is not of this world. It is life in the Kingdom of God which begins now with loving God and keeping His commandments.”

                Such practical, humble advice must seem prosaic or even short-sighted to those with dreams of grandeur. But it is exactly this kind of daily fidelity to small acts of love that leads ultimately to life-changing ends. A song by Josh Williams talks about how these small dreams show us small ways to help others as only we can:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/dOBaLrItEyc?si=nEnDqblt8iZSSSz4

It’s a mama singin’ songs about the Lord
It’s a daddy spendin’ family time, the world says he cannot afford
These simple moments change the world

It’s a pastor at a tiny little church
40 years of lovin’ on the broken and the hurt
These simple moments change the world

Dream small
Don’t buy the lie, you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time

Live well
Lovin’ God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Dream small

It’s visiting the widow down the street
Or dancin’ on a Friday with your friend with special needs
These simple moments change the world

Of course, there’s nothin’ wrong with bigger dreams
Just don’t miss the minutes on your way to bigger things, no
‘Cause these simple moments change the world

So dream small
Don’t buy the lie, you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time

Live well
Lovin’ God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
So dream small

Keep lovin’, keep servin’, keep listenin’, keep learnin’
Keep prayin’, keep hopin’, keep seekin’, keep searchin’
Add up the small things and watch them grow bigger
The God who does all things makes oceans from rivers

So dream small
Don’t buy the lie, you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time

Live well
Lovin’ God and others as yourself (others as yourself)
Find little ways where only you can help (only you can help)
With His great love (his great love)
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Yeah, five loaves and two fish can feed them all
So dream small

Dream small
Mm-mm

Glory to God who makes a great tree grow out of a tiny seed and who raises up godly men and women from tiny little babies. Congratulations to all who have graduated in 2024. May all your small dreams cause you to live well in the goodness and greatness of our Creator!