The Quiet Importance of Every Cog

The popular PBS period drama, Call the Midwife, is a favorite of mine. The series recounts true stories of midwives who assist young mothers in London’s East End during the 1950s and ‘60s. In Nonnates House, the setting for the drama, young midwives and various nuns (also midwives) live together, sharing blessings and conflicts as they care for expectant mothers and deliver babies.

In their neighborhood, certain townspeople also have significant roles that add charm and depth to the ongoing storylines. According to Heidi Thomas, the series creator, each character’s part is important, no matter how small, somewhat like the workings of a watch: “If you take the back off of it (the watch), you see all these tiny individual wheels and cogs, and not only does each have a role of real importance but it works in conjunction with other wheels and cogs so every character in the drama has a particular relationship with another one.”

Blessed by Faithfulness

The way life works is much like Thomas’ watch analogy. For a missing cog, no matter how small, will stop the watch from keeping time. Likewise, we may feel like tiny cogs, insignificant bits in the realm of life. Our small daily acts of faithful love and service, as we interact with those in our sphere, can seem inconsequential and mundane.

However, when we fail to fulfill those roles, then life, like that watch, ceases to work in the way it should. Similarly, we do not want to lose sight of what God may be doing from His eternal view.

It takes faith to continue when circumstances seem confusing, even frightening. Consider, for instance, the Old Testament figure Abraham, who, in obedience to God’s direction, was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, on Mt. Moriah. When God witnessed Abraham’s obedience, He stopped the man from offering his son and provided a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place. Abraham’s actions serve as a mighty testimony of his faith in the Almighty Yahweh whom he worshiped.

Lesser known but equally important, however, is the story of Abraham’s faithful senior servant, Eliezor, whom Abraham commissioned to go to Mesopotamia, nearly a five hundred mile trip, to find a wife for Isaac from among Abraham’s relatives. For Isaac, now a man, needed a wife in order to fulfill God’s promise to his father. What was the promise? That God would make of Abraham “a great nation” (Genesis 12:2) and that from his seed “all the families of the earth would be blessed” (12:3) through the coming of the Messiah.

Unbeknownst to Eliezor, his selfless service to Abraham and his trust in his master’s God would impact the lineage of that coming Messiah. For Eliezor’s prayers providentially led him to beautiful Rebekah, who not only offered him water but also drew well water by hand for his ten camels—no small task. Ultimately, Rebekah returned with Eliezor to marry Isaac. This humble servant, Eliezor, was indeed a small cog in a very large story!

That we should read, thousands of years later, of this seemingly “every day” encounter and be blessed by their faithfulness (and much more by God’s) is an encouragement to our own faithful living. In Genesis 22:18, God promises Abraham, “In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (emphasis mine). I wonder, in Heaven, will God recount our acts of obedience, both large and small (many that we have forgotten) and reveal to us how they fulfilled His will in our lives and blessed others?

Obedience, No Matter How Small

What a picture of the Christian’s walk with Christ and His church these stories are! We each (with our own unique gifts and personalities) have different parts to play in life’s drama. In Scripture, the Church is likened to a family (Hebrews 2:11), and a body (I Corinthians 12:21). And just like the wheels and cogs of the watch, each part, no matter how great or small, is of such genuine consequence that the church only runs smoothly when each one is fulfilling her role.

For example, once, when my husband served as pastor, we invited some college students to our home after a church service. An extremely shy coed was among them. She barely made eye contact and spoke in an almost inaudible voice. We were struck by how insecure she seemed, so tried to draw her out as best we could. Years later, imagine our surprise when she returned to our church as a completely transformed young woman. In fact, we did not recognize her as she spoke with such joyous confidence. She laughed at our uncertainty, explaining how the Lord had worked in her life, helping her overcome her fears and shyness. Then she related how our kindness had played a role in her growth because we invited her to our home and treated her as a valued individual. We felt humbled and thankful to have played that small part in her life.

As I reflect on how my friends, family, and church might be blessed because of my obedience to the Lord, however small, I also contemplate how they might miss out on blessings if I am negligent or disobedient. My heart cries out, “Oh, Lord, help me to obey You in all things! I love You and want to serve You and bless all those who are part of my life.”

In C.S. Lewis’ Narnia story, The Horse and His Boy, the Lion, Aslan, reminds the children that they are not to be concerned about his plans for others’ lives for “no one is told any story but their own.” Likewise, when Peter asked Jesus about His plan for John’s life, Jesus replied, “What is that to you? You follow me” (John 21:22). Similarly, I am often tempted to compare my life roles to the ones God is creating for others. Although another’s impact may be greater than mine in the intricacy of God’s plan, when another is fashioned as a larger wheel compared to my small cog, my focus must remain on what God wants to achieve through me instead of what He is doing in others. As Jesus said to Peter, “What is that to you?”

Therefore, we follow Him.