Nothing is Small in the Service of God

Aug 12

This week my young niece and nephew will be performing in a youth version of the Broadway musical Seussical. The play is a mixture of many classic children’s stories by the famous Dr. Seuss. The show centers on community, loyalty, and the power of imagination. The words and the music teach the importance of staying loyal to friends and standing up for what is right, even when you feel abandoned or alone.

Fr. Jack’s niece Audrey prepares for Seussical.

The core message teaches kids that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” This quote is from the 1954 book Horton Hears a Who. The quote, the book, and the musical emphasize that every life has value, everyone deserves respect, and every person has a place in the world, no matter how small or insignificant they seem.

The production I will be seeing is part of the Catholic Community Choir children’s theater department (CCC Shines). The performing arts program is a year-long opportunity for young people to explore their creativity, build confidence, and make friends in a supportive, fun environment. Throughout the summer, CCC really shines. Their annual theater camp gives children a chance to learn, perform, and share the spotlight on and off the stage.

The Seussical performance fits beautifully into the mission of CCC Shine. The suburban Philadelphia children’s program helps children “discover their unique talents and grow and shine as a person. Founded on the ideas of faith, fun, and friendship, (the summer camp) creates a welcoming space where kids can learn, express themselves, and be part of a community that celebrates who they are (from Catholic Community Choir).”

The musical and the summer camp both highlight key themes of Salesian Spirituality. The little virtues and the example of St. Francis de Sales tell us that “nothing is small in the service of God.” Again and again, the gentleman saint tells us that God is found in the simple, ordinary tasks of everyday life. Holiness is not always achieved through great works, but usually in the small tasks we face each day. Much like the reading from the First Book of Kings read at Mass last weekend, we are called to recognize the Lord in the “tiny whispering sounds” of our days (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Seussical and St. Francis remind us that we all matter. Whether on stage or in our homes, God is at work in our world. The old theater adage “there are no small parts, only small actors” is a reminder that no matter how brief an actor is on stage, he can still make an impact. St. Francis would echo this in the way he saw our spiritual lives: nothing and no one is insignificant in God’s eyes.