Tiny Brushstrokes

When Leonardo da Vinci painted the “Mona Lisa,” he was mocked by his friends and colleagues for using such small brushstrokes to paint the picture.  By using small strokes, the painting took much longer than other painting methods.  In the end, da Vinci had the last laugh.  The painting da Vinci created one tiny brushstroke at a time became known as and still is a “masterpiece of photographic quality.”

When “seeing the big picture” is often the focus, why is it important to do small things? Andy Andrews, bestselling author of The Little Things, explains 3 benefits of when we do little things:

1.       Doing little things helps us be successful

2.       Doing little things sets us apart

3.       Doing little things helps us lead

First, taking care of the little things leads to success. In the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps’s set a new record by winning eight medals. When he won his 8^th medal, he won it by 1/100th of one second—a “little” less than a second led to a victory. On the field, our success is measured by properly officiating one play at a time much like Phelps won each race one stroke at a time.

Second, doing little things sets us apart. Think about one thing that can set you or your crew apart in a positive way? Almost all crews assign each member “a crew responsibility.”  Examples are taking care of hotel reservations, dining options, and ticket procurements. Referees also often assign members part of pregame to present such as foul reporting, scouting teams, measurements, and replay. At times, we may think our responsibility is not significant. The challenge is to complete our assignment as if it is the most important part of the crew. As small as an assignment may appear, it can lead to huge problems if not taken care of.

Third, completing little things helps us lead. We set the example by not only saying what we will do but also actually doing the work and showing appreciation for others. As officials, we are all leaders and need to recognize when others take care of their responsibilities.  As stated above, crew members take care of various aspects of the crew.  When was the last time you thanked a crewmate for taking care of their business?

Matthew 13:31-32 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

In Matthew 13: 31-32, notice the small grain of mustard seed could not grow until planted. God desires us to use and plant the small seeds. The small and often insignificant assignments we are given don’t appear to add value initially.  Over time, when we consistently “take care of business” with the responsibilities we are given, we plant positive seeds for the people around us.  On football weekends, make a difference by planting seeds. We can help grow a tree that provides rest and shelter for the people around us.

Every big picture that is ever created is created one brush stroke at a time.  Andy Andrews