Little by Little

Jun 27
22 min read

Updated: Jul 2

Sunday Service, 28 June 2026

Led by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

https://youtu.be/SXindGMlT5I?si=qWNVVOQFwu4DE101

Musical Prelude: Chopin, Prelude in E Major Op. 28 No. 9 (performed by George Ireland)

Opening Words: ‘We Seek Steadiness’ by Joan Javier-Duval (adapted)

As the world shifts beneath us,

we seek steadiness:

the unwavering support of community,

the principled guidance of wise teachings,

the faithful turning of the seasons.

We seek within ourselves and in one another

a devotion to all that is true,

all that is just, all that is beautiful.

We gather here to re-ground ourselves

and to re-orient toward our heart’s calling.

Here we hold onto what is good,

what we believe, and what we must do.

With resolute and compassionate hearts,

let us worship together. (pause)

Words of Welcome and Introduction:

These words from Joan Javier-Duval welcome all who have gathered this morning for our Sunday service. Welcome to those who have gathered in-person at Essex Church, to all who are joining via Zoom, and anyone tuning in at a later date via YouTube or the podcast stream. For anyone who doesn’t know me, I’m Jane Blackall, and I’m minister with Kensington Unitarians.

This morning’s service is titled ‘Little by Little’. In the coming hour we will reflect on the value of modest, consistent, actions in bringing about positive change. Today’s service is inspired by this book I recently read and enjoyed very much, ‘How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life’ by Eric Zimmer – he’s the host of a popular podcast called ‘The One You Feed’ – he draws on lots of interesting influences including Zen Buddhism – and he has a background in recovery from addiction which I think informs a lot of the insights he shares.

I put a quote from Zimmer on the OOS: ‘No matter where we find ourselves – whether life feels generous or stripped bare – 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.’

Chalice Lighting: ‘Joy and Power’ by Jami Yandle (adapted)

Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. It’s a moment for us to stop and take a breath, settle ourselves down, put aside any preoccupations we came in carrying. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.

(light chalice)

We light this chalice

for the quiet truths we carry,

and for the futures we’re brave enough to write.

In this circle, we honour

the courage it takes to live openly,

the softness that sustains us,

and the joy and power that grow when we gather.

As the chalice glows may we feel steadiness rise in us.

And may we trust in our becoming—

our messy, radiant, collective unfolding—

as we persistently and faithfully claim our calling,

and make choices that change our world for the better, day by day.

Hymn (on sheet): ‘Children of a Bright Tomorrow’

Let us sing together now. Our first hymn is on your hymn sheet: ‘Children of a Bright Tomorrow’. For those joining on zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer. Sing up!

Now we gather here to worship,

Each with but one life to live;

Each with gifts and each with failings,

Each with but one heart to give.

In our longing, here we gather,

With warm voices for a friend;

Two or three, or tens or thousands,

Heart and hand to all extend.

May our circle grow still wider;

May we see as others see:

Standing in the others' sandals

Shows us they, too, would be free.

Children of a bright tomorrow,

Every race and every creed;

Men and women of all nations,

Each a glory, each in need.

Small are we, and small our planet,

Hidden here among the stars:

May we know our timeless mission -

Universal avatars.

Candles of Joy and Concern:

Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. We’ll go to the people in the building first, then to Zoom.

So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us who or what you light your candle for – please keep it brief – be considerate of others. I’m going to ask you to come to the lectern to speak, as we want people to be able to hear you.

(in person candles)

And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.

(zoom candles)

And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)

Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Calvin Dame

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. The prayer is based on words by Calvin Dame. You might want to adjust your position, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever helps you get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – be fully present – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,

we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,

as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom

to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.

Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the

silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)

May we this day be grateful for the gift of life which is ours,

remembering that today and always that the

precious life we have and hold is to us a mystery.

May we this day be reminded of the responsibilities we carry,

not so that we may be intimidated or overwhelmed,

but so that we may be true to them,

so that we may be faithful in carrying them forward.

May we this day maintain a sense of perspective,

remembering who we are, engaging the tasks at hand,

but understanding our limitations, understanding our own shortcomings,

forgiving ourselves and others when we fall short of perfection.

May we this day be inspired, be filled with new breath,

be filled with new enthusiasm, ready to see fresh possibilities,

new perspectives, unnoticed avenues for fruitful action and resolution.

And may we this day remember those virtues

that bless our lives and bless the lives of others,

the virtues of caring and concern,

the virtues of truthfulness and integrity,

the virtues of charity, good work, and persistence,

remembering that this world may yet be made a little

more fair, more just, more equitable, by our humble efforts,

as we stand up to be counted, when it matters, and live according to our faith. (pause)

And in a few minutes of quietness now, let us seek a higher perspective, a longer view;

starting right where we are, let us shift our awareness ever outward, in circles of concern.

Let us bring to mind those we know to be struggling this day – perhaps including ourselves –

those friends and family we hold dearest – our neighbours in community –

others around the globe we may only have heard about on the news.

And let us take time to send prayers of loving kindness to all who suffer this day. (long pause)

Let us take stock of our own lives – the challenges we face – and our part in those difficulties –

perhaps we are all too aware of mistakes we have made, or missed opportunities –

times in this week where things didn’t turn out how we intended or had hoped.

And let us take time to ask for what we need to transform our pain and sufferings. (long pause)

Let us look back over the last week, taking time to notice what was good, to count our blessings –

all the ways in which others helped or encouraged us, inspired or delighted us –

all the goodness and beauty we have known even in the midst of pain and struggle.

And let us take time to give prayers of thanks for all we have been given. (long pause)

Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up

our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,

and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.

As we look forward now to the coming week,

help us to live well each day and be our best selves;

using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen.

Reading: ‘The Power of Small’ by David Longenecker (excerpts, adapted) (read by Mussy)

This piece, by Christian pastor David Longenecker, draws on a well-known parable which reminds us of the power of small beginnings to lead to great things. He writes:

It’s easy to overlook the significance of small actions and small beginnings, yet Jesus taught us profound spiritual lessons about how even the smallest seeds can lead to extraordinary outcomes. In the Gospel of Mark, He likens the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. The parable of the mustard seed reminds us how small steps of faith can result in incredible growth and transformation.

Jesus said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade (Mark 4:30-32).

This parable of the mustard seed illustrates that even the smallest act of faith can yield extraordinary results. The mustard seed starts small but grows into a magnificent tree, representing how the Kingdom of God expands through seemingly insignificant beginnings.

Small, consistent actions can lead to significant changes over time. Want to grow spiritually? Start small! Begin with brief daily prayers or readings. These small acts of faith build momentum for deeper spiritual growth. Want to make an impact? Take small steps! A single act of kindness or encouragement can ripple outward, influencing others and expanding the reach of the Kingdom of God.

When you plant a small seed of kindness or faith, it inspires others, creating a chain reaction of positive change. The parable of the mustard seed reminds us that no action in the Kingdom of God is too small to make a difference. Small acts of faith can lead to profound spiritual transformation. Be mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions, as they shape your habits, character, and ultimately, your destiny.

Small beginnings require patience and perseverance. Seeds don’t grow into trees overnight, and our efforts in the Kingdom of God take time to bear fruit. Galatians 6:9, reminds us, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Ask God, “What one small step can I take today to grow in faith?” And remember Zechariah 4:10, Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

By embracing small beginnings, we allow God to multiply our efforts, and turn our seeds of faith into trees of blessing.

Hymn (on sheet): ‘Who Is My Neighbour?’

Thanks Mussy. Let’s sing again now – our second hymn is also on your hymn sheets – ‘Who is My Neighbour?’

Who is my neighbour? Every soul who lives upon the earth.

I have been called to treat each one with dignity and worth,

Working for justice, seeking peace and cultivating care,

Offering hope to those whose lives are laden with despair.

When I can ease another’s pain, I know I’ll do my part.

When I can bring another joy, I’ll open up my heart.

When I have more than someone else, I’ll share the things I can.

When I am tempted to be cruel, I’ll strive to understand.

Who is my neighbour? Earth itself and all the beings there:

Flora and fauna, fish and fowl, the trees that graze the air.

River and prairie, sea and sky I honour and respect.

These are my neighbours. These I vow to cherish and protect.

Oh, may we build a world where all have everything they need.

May we be free from hate and fear, from violence and from greed.

May our lives be tributes to compassion, love, and trust

Till we are kin to all the world and all are kin to us.

Reading: ‘The Story of Mountain Man’ as told in Eric Zimmer’s ‘How a Little Becomes a Lot’ (read by Chloë)

Dashrath Manjhi had a hammer, a chisel, and a mountain of grief.

His wife, Falguni, hadn’t died because of the fall that injured her. She had died because the nearest doctor was ninety kilometres away by the one narrow, rocky path that wound its way around the steep ridge that divided their village in India from its neighbours. If he had only been able to travel straight across the ridge, Dashrath knew, he could have gotten her to the doctor in time. As it was, he had to live with the memory of Falguni leaving him on the way as he sped along the circuitous path for help.

In his grief, Dashrath could have chosen to do nothing. He did not. He walked up to the steep rock face of the ridge at the end of town, through which no road ran, and started hammering.

“Lunatic!” people hissed and murmured and yelled straight at Dashrath. What did he think he was doing? Digging to Nepal? Anything else would be a better use of his time. It’s not like he could single-handedly make a path through a foothill of the Himalayas. He must be mad with grief.

Dashrath didn’t mind. Every day he came back and hammered a few more centimetres. Weeks passed, then months. Then years. The people who had mocked him began bringing him food, buying him new tools when the old hammer and chisel wore out. Eventually, everyone understood what at first only he had seen.

Twenty-two years after he began hammering at a wall of rock, Dashrath had carved a path straight through it. His road was 110 metres long, 7.7 metres deep in places, and 9.1 metres wide. It shortened the distance to the next down from 55 to 15 kilometres and transformed the life of his village. He became famous across India as ‘Mountain Man’ and lived out his days knowing that the next time a loved one needed to get to the doctor quickly, they could.

Little by little, a man moved a mountain. And as incredible as his story is, he is far from alone.

Words for Meditation: ‘In the Steps of RBG’ by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Thanks Chloë. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. To take us into stillness, I’m going to share a poem by regular favourite Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, titled ‘In the Steps of RBG’. It applies this principle of ‘little by little’ to the often-frustrating process of working towards social change, making the world a better place, and it encourages us to persist in doing the next right thing, as small as it may be. After that, we will hold a few minutes of shared silence, which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear music for meditation. So let’s do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As ever, these words are just an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

‘In the Steps of RBG’ by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

‘Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.’

—Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as quoted in Notorious RBG by Irin Carmen and Shana Knizhnik

So let me take one step right now,

one step toward respect.

And give me strength to take another

toward clarity. And though

my feet might feel like stones, let

me take another step toward justice.

And another toward equity. And another

toward truth. And though my legs

may feel leaden and slow, though someone

else may step on my toes, may I inch

toward forgiveness. May every step

be toward a bridge. Enough divisiveness.

And as I go, may I find joy in the stepping,

grace in the edging toward great change.

But if there’s little joy, let me step anyway.

Then take another step. And another. And another.

Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell

Interlude: Chopin, Prelude in E Minor Op. 28 No. 4 (performed by George Ireland)

Reading: ‘How a Little Becomes a Lot’ by Eric Zimmer (excerpts, adapted) (read by Jane)

If you remember one thing from this book, let this Tanzanian proverb be it: Little by little, a little becomes a lot.

You’ve heard some version of the idea, likely many times – Rome wasn’t built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race. You eat an elephant one bite at a time. And yet, when we attempt change in our own lives, we can’t help hoping for faster results. The silver bullet, the epiphany, the makeover montage, the superhero glow-up: Rapid transformations make for high drama and good marketing. Get rich quick, slim down fast, change your life with one call today. Our natural desire for things to be easy nudges us toward these promises. And when they don’t work, we tend to conclude that we can’t change at all.

The good news is that we can change. All of us. And meaningful, lasting transformation doesn’t take a lightning-strike miracle, or willpower of steel, or six free months to spend in a Buddhist monastery. What it takes is this simple idea, which turns out to be one of the key elements in modern behavioural science, and echoes through our great philosophical and spiritual traditions.

When I say “little by little” in this book, I don’t just mean it in a vague, proverbial sense. An easy critique of the approach is to conjure scenarios in which “a little” is not actually likely to do a lot. Picking up a piece of litter every now and then won’t keep a park clean, a sceptic might say; sending a couple of holiday cards probably won’t bridge a family estrangement. Fair enough. So before we go further, let’s define what I actually mean by this path to change.

Here’s what I mean by “little by little”: low-resistance actions, done consistently over time, in the same direction. “Low-resistance” is all about choosing actions we’ll actually do, while “consistently” 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.

“The little decisions you and I make every day are of infinite importance,” C.S. Lewis wrote, making a comparison to compound interest. “The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on victories you never dreamed of.” Let’s prove him right.

Hymn 124 (purple): ‘One More Step’

Time for another hymn now – it’s number 124 in your purple books – ‘One More Step’.

One more step, we will take one more step,

'til there is peace for us and everyone, we'll take one more step.

One more word, we will say one more word,

'til every word is heard by everyone, we'll say one more word.

One more prayer, we will say one more prayer,

'til every prayer is shared by everyone, we'll say one more prayer.

One more song, we will sing one more song,

'til every song is sung by everyone, we'll sing one more song.

Mini-Reflection: ‘Little by Little’ by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

This idea we’re exploring today – the notion that modest, consistent, actions can bring about positive change, and enable us to achieve great things over the long term – it’s 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’t built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time (that one’s not my favourite – I feel sorry for the elephant!).

The sayings continue – and they come from all over the globe – there’s the Tanzanian proverb ‘Little by little, a little becomes a lot’, and the similar Peruvian prover which translates to ‘Little by little, one walks far’, and from China the saying of Confucius ‘It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.’

Self-help and productivity books talk about the ‘compound effect’ of establishing modest but consistent habits. Sports scientists – especially in my favourite sport of cycling – have in recent decades spoken about chasing ‘marginal gains’ to optimise performance (and, while not uncontroversial, that has transformed the entire sport). It’s a central tenet of the 12-step recovery movement as well: ‘One day at a time’. 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.

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: ‘The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.’ And the Buddha, in the Dhammapada, is recorded as saying ‘Drop by drop is the water pot filled.’ That last one is particularly interesting, actually, as in context he’s saying that it can go either way; little by little you can make positive change OR you can go astray and it can all go wrong.

I’ll share the two verses from the Dhammapada so you get both sides of the picture:

Think not lightly of evil, saying, “It will not come to me.” 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, “It will not come to me.” Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.

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

I want to invite you to consider where in your life you could apply this insight today. Let’s make it real and practical. Think about where you are at, personally – your context, your circumstances, what you’re dealing with right now – your stage of life. Perhaps also about the communities you’re embedded in. Your place in the world.

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

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 – or who you want to be – just one extremely modest action, in one domain of your life, that you could even do today. Remember what Zimmer said: “Here’s what I mean by “little by little”: low-resistance actions, done consistently over time, in the same direction. “Low-resistance” is all about choosing actions we’ll actually do, while “consistently” 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.’

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

But let’s 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, ‘Do not despise… small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.’ And the reminder that ‘By embracing small beginnings, we allow God to multiply our efforts, and turn our seeds of faith into trees of blessing.’

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

It’s 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: ‘I 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.’

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… like this one. At ‘How to be a Unitarian’ on Thursday we were talking about how we could collectively turn around the fortunes of our Unitarian denomination and reach more people. That’s a worthy project too! And if we want our community to thrive, to be there for us and others, we all need to engage.

You cannot do everything, but still you can do something… and no matter how modest your contribution seems, if it’s one that you can show up and do consistently, day after day, week after week, until months become years… little by little, a little becomes a lot.

I want to close with an echo of those words from Zimmer that we heard right at the beginning of the service. He said: ‘No matter where we find ourselves – whether life feels generous or stripped bare – 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.’ May we take those steps, and make those crucial choices, for the greater good of all. Amen.

Hymn 125 (purple): ‘One More Step Along the World I Go’

Time for one last hymn now, number 125, ‘One More Step Along the World I Go’.

One more step along the world I go,

one more step along the world I go;

from the old things to the new,

keep me travelling along with you;