The Wisdom of Cul-de-Sacs

On my daily walks around my neighborhood, I can choose from several routes that satisfy my daily exercise goal. My favorite routes are the loops that keep me within a half mile from home, a strategic option to manage two cups of morning coffee. I usually walk the loops without sidetracking the numerous cul-de-sacs. These detours seem too short to be consequential and the extra turns slow me down. But then I did an experiment to see how much they increased my mileage. A frequent 2.2 miles route turned into 3.1 miles with cul-de-sacs, a 40% increase!

 

The cul-de-sac experience plays out everywhere in life. A little thing multiplied becomes a big thing. Little habits become big disciplines. The $5 coffee per day saved becomes a small annual vacation. A few nightly pages read become a library consumed. The ‘spare change’ apps that invest those little bits of change you don’t even miss can start the practice of regular investing on a larger scale. The few extra seconds needed to smile and say hello change can the environment. Sometimes the ‘extra mile’ is traveled via many small acts of kindness.

 

Spiritual habits work the same, becoming strong spiritual disciplines. The extra few minutes of prayer time while you’re driving adds up to closer connection with Him. The daily devotional reading on your phone increases the hunger to delve deep into His Word. Consistent gathering with friends of like faith builds community on a strong foundation.

 

Cul-de-sacs make a difference. Little things matter. What little things are you handling well? What little things do you want to begin doing? Which cul-de-sacs are you choosing to take?