{"id":1035,"date":"2026-06-30T10:57:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/revjane.co.uk\/?p=1035"},"modified":"2026-06-30T10:57:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T09:57:44","slug":"little-by-little","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/revjane.co.uk\/?p=1035","title":{"rendered":"Little by Little"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reflection #126 (28th June 2026 at Essex Church \/ Kensington Unitarians)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This idea we\u2019re exploring today \u2013 the notion that modest, consistent, actions can bring about positive change, and enable us to achieve great things over the long term \u2013 it\u2019s a well-worn idea. There are so many proverbs and sayings to remind us of the fact. Eric Zimmer reminded us of a few in that last reading we heard: Rome wasn\u2019t built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time (that one\u2019s not my favourite \u2013 I feel sorry for the elephant!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The sayings continue \u2013 and they come from all over the globe \u2013 there\u2019s the Tanzanian proverb \u2018Little by little, a little becomes a lot\u2019, and the similar Peruvian prover which translates to \u2018Little by little, one walks far\u2019, and from China the saying of Confucius \u2018It doesn\u2019t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-help and productivity books talk about the \u2018compound effect\u2019 of establishing modest but consistent habits. Sports scientists \u2013 especially in my favourite sport of cycling \u2013 have in recent decades spoken about chasing \u2018marginal gains\u2019 to optimise performance (and, while not uncontroversial, that has transformed the entire sport). It\u2019s a central tenet of the 12-step recovery movement as well: \u2018One day at a time\u2019. We see people turn their entire lives round, in the long term, by taking it day-by-day. Zimmer is in long-term recovery and that experience has shaped the book he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the faith traditions all have something to say about it too. In the reading we heard from Mussy earlier, we were reminded of the parable of the mustard seed, and a couple of other scriptural encouragements to start small and keep at it. In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad apparently taught: \u2018The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.\u2019 And the Buddha, in the Dhammapada, is recorded as saying \u2018Drop by drop is the water pot filled.\u2019 That last one is particularly interesting, actually, as in context he\u2019s saying that it can go either way; little by little you can make positive change OR<\/em> you can go astray and it can all go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll share the two verses from the Dhammapada so you get both sides of the picture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think not lightly of evil, saying, \u201cIt will not come to me.\u201d Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the fool, gathering it little by little, fills himself with evil. Think not lightly of good, saying, \u201cIt will not come to me.\u201d Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it\u2019s important for us to remember that, as with more-or-less everything in life, this \u2018little by little\u2019 approach is something that can be put to use for good or ill. We can intentionally set out to establish good habits \u2013 to make those small, unspectacular, but sustainable changes in our lives or the life of the world \u2013 and crucially not try to change a thousand things at once, but just focus on one thing we can stick at\u2026 until it\u2019s stuck. But at the same time we have to be wary of unthinkingly picking up bad habits \u2013 we can slide into behaviours we know aren\u2019t in our or anyone\u2019s best interests \u2013 and on any given day perhaps it doesn\u2019t seem too serious yet \u2018little by little, a little becomes a lot\u2019. We can end up \u2013 in our own lives, or as a community, a society \u2013 somewhere we don\u2019t want to be. The Buddha gives us a warning that we should harness this insight wisely. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to invite you to consider where in your life you could apply this insight today. Let\u2019s make it real and practical. Think about where you are at, personally \u2013 your context, your circumstances, what you\u2019re dealing with right now \u2013 your stage of life. Perhaps also about the communities you\u2019re embedded in. Your place in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe, like me, you have an absurdly, oppressively, humungous to-do list weighing you down \u2013 consisting not only of basic adulting and life maintenance, and responsibilities towards others \u2013 but also social and cultural engagement, learning, activism, creative aspirations. This is what we\u2019re like, isn\u2019t it? It\u2019s good! We care about a lot of things, we\u2019re interested in a lot of things, we like to get involved. And it can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So perhaps, for you, the way to use this approach is to identify one tiny step that you could take to move closer to where you want to be in life \u2013 or who<\/em> you want to be \u2013 just one extremely modest action, in one domain of your life, that you could even do today. Remember what Zimmer said: \u201cHere\u2019s what I mean by \u201clittle by little\u201d: low-resistance actions, done consistently over time, in the same direction. \u201cLow-resistance\u201d is all about choosing actions we\u2019ll actually do, while \u201cconsistently\u201d is all about repetition. In the same direction means that all the little steps are headed toward the same thing. These qualities, resistance and consistency, are at the heart of creating momentum and overcoming the roadblocks in our way.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you think about your life right now \u2013 you could also take a moment to look back \u2013 and think about how far you\u2019ve already come. All the little-by-littles that have already compounded in your life to date, the ways in which you\u2019ve grown and developed, the metaphorical mountains you\u2019ve already climbed (or indeed chiselled your way through as we heard in the story of Mountain Man that Chlo\u00eb read). Perhaps past-you had a dream, an aspiration, and present-you is that dream made real. Well done! You\u2019ve most-likely already achieved a lot and accumulated fair bit of wisdom along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s also take a moment to think about future-you. Maybe even imagine a time when you are nearing the end of your life and looking back over the span of it all. What modest step could you take today that future-you would look back and thank you for? What metaphorical mustard seed could you sow, and faithfully tend, one day at a time, trusting that it will grow into something really worthwhile? There was that quote from Zephaniah in the first reading, \u2018Do not despise\u2026 small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.\u2019 And the reminder that \u2018By embracing small beginnings, we allow God to multiply our efforts, and turn our seeds of faith into trees of blessing.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not just about personal growth, or optimising our lives, for our own benefit. That first reading spoke about the Kingdom of God \u2013 also known as the Beloved Community \u2013 that better world, that realm of justice, that we\u2019re forever striving towards, yet is also mysteriously always \u2018at hand\u2019.  Little by little we can each chip away \u2013 we MUST chip away \u2013 at all that we know is wrong in this world, and help build something better instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a well-worn quote in Unitarian circles, but I feel obliged to share the wise words of Edward Everett Hale, which encourage us to play our part in whatever small way we can: \u2018I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about what it is you want to give your energies to, and then intentionally focus them, so that your efforts stand the best chance of making an impact in the long run. Perhaps you are particularly motivated by wanting to combat the climate emergency, or fight the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few, or stand up for trans rights, whatever you feel particularly called to concentrate on. There are many worthy causes. Many wrongs that need to be put right. Or rather than focusing on combating wrongs, you might be more suited to building a better alternative, helping to co-create counter-cultural spaces that reflect your values\u2026 like this one. At \u2018How to be a Unitarian\u2019 on Thursday we were talking about how we could collectively turn around the fortunes of our Unitarian denomination and reach more people. That\u2019s a worthy project too! And if we want our community to thrive, to be there for us and others, we all need to engage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot do everything<\/em>, but still you can do something<\/em>\u2026 and no matter how modest your contribution seems, if it\u2019s one that you can show up and do consistently, day after day, week after week, until months become years\u2026 little by little, a little becomes a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to close with an echo of those words from Zimmer that we heard right at the beginning of the service. He said: \u2018No matter where we find ourselves \u2013 whether life feels generous or stripped bare \u2013 there is always some small step available to us. Not always the one we want. Not always the one that changes everything. But something. A movement toward meaning. Some of us are given more room, more freedom, more choices; others, fewer. But even in the narrowest of places, a choice still waits. Small, positive steps worth taking, choices worth making.\u2019 May we take those steps, and make those crucial choices, for the greater good of all. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflection by Jane Blackall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n