True North: Hatchet DayUzorak

 START WITH SMALL STICKS

The very next morning Jack had his hatchet in his hands ready to attack the forest.  Immediately after breakfast we went out into the backyard with one goal in mind, cutting down branches.  Of course we went through some safety education about how to hold the hatchet, what direction to swing, and proper stance so your leg isn't in the direct swinging line, etc... But all the talking aside, Jack was ready to start using his promised hatchet. 

In classic 8 year-old fashion, my son looked at the moderately-sized Honey Locust tree among smaller Elm trees, zeroed in on a branch that was about 4" in diameter and pulled the hatchet back about as far as he could and began to swing forward with all of his strength.  That is, until I yelled, "Freeze!!!" 

"Hey buddy, if you swing at that branch, there's a pretty good chance your hatchet is going to bounce back and hit you.  Why don't we start with some smaller sticks first”?

That isn't just for Jack though.  We all need to start with small sticks.  God's promise for our life might be HUGE, but often times, we need to start small.  When we're just getting started, we're not ready for the huge promise yet.  We need to practice our technique and grow in things like strength and confidence.  Eventually we'll be experienced and equipped for the great undertaking that the Lord is calling us to, but not immediately. 

God called Gideon to begin with something small.  He didn't call him to save the entire kingdom that first evening. tThe Lord asked him to begin with his own family.  The Lord told him to tear down the idol worshipping altar that belonged to his father and build an altar for the Lord.  

Judges 6:27 tells us that Gideon did it, but as a vigilante in the middle of the night.  "So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as the Lord had told him.  But because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night."  The men of the city were furious with Gideon for what he did.  But it was Gideon's obedience in his own home that gave him the confidence to move forward. 

Jack didn't mind starting with small sticks.  He wasn't afraid to do something his father was telling him.  He understood that it's part of getting better and practicing.  Often times I find we're more like Gideon than Jack though.  We're afraid of starting, even with something small, because of how people will react.  We forget to see the importance of small steps in a big goal.  

Where is God calling you to start small today?  Is there something you've been putting off or that you are procrastinating from?  Maybe there is something that seems so big you don't know where to start?  Spend some time with the Lord and see where your Heavenly father is calling you to start. Jack's dad had him start with the small sticks.