Welcome to “Athlos” a weekly blog which examines pillars of personal excellence and regularly brings together the worlds of Christian spirituality and sport.
Little by Little
“Dishonest money dwindles away but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow”-Proverbs 13:11
Slow and Steady
We are allergic to slowness. Nowadays, doing things in an unhurried manner is not seen as praiseworthy. Maybe the race is for the swift, after all. Proverbs 13 above suggests something quite different, though. If we focus on the second half of the verse, we see that growth happens when we are willing to gather little by little.
Although the context of the verse is dealing with money, there is a useful principle that can have a broader application. Simply, we are encouraged to steadily work at a project, taking small but regular steps forward. It could be savings, weight loss, spiritual disciplines, academic pursuits or writing a book. We are reminded of the popular expression, “slow and steady.”
I have had to look past my recent disappointment that my Lakers basketball team was beaten 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Hats off to Denver. Indeed, there are Nuggets of wisdom to learn from them.
Three years ago, they were beaten at the very same stage by the said Lakers, who went on the win the NBA Championship that year. Yet, between then and now, the Denver Nuggets just kept building their team, putting the required parts together, little by little.
To rub salt in the Lakers’ wounds, one of the latter’s former players, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who was traded from the Lakers, now plays as a starter for the Nuggets! He went from undesired to indispensable.
As you embrace the month of June, consider if there is any part of your life that requires you to stick to a pathway no matter how long the journey may seem to be taking. Keep at it. Don’t be discouraged. Slow and steady, little by little, watch yourself mature.
Gather and Grow
True growth never happens hastily.
If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
