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By Natalie Smith, Class of 2016
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| Natalie Smith |
I once read an article in which an interviewer asked several renowned and famous chefs what they would eat as their last meal if they were to die that day. Their answers were not what one would immediately suspect--not the elegant and expensive meals purchased in five-star restaurants, but foods like macaroni and cheese, a burger and fries, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The greatest chefs in the world would choose simple comfort food for their last meals on Earth.
Although a somewhat odd example, I think these chefs evidenced in their responses that the smallest joys of life are the ones that affect us the most, however far under the radar they pass at the time of their occurrence. It is in the most ordinary that the beauty of life unfurls itself.
It’s not only the small joys we observe, but also the small actions we take, that affect us. As a Catholic, I grew up familiar with the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, a woman who dedicated her life not to great deeds, but to daily acts of love. Her life was simple, and would probably have been entirely forgotten if not for her personal, written works. Nevertheless, she became a saint because she strove to do the smallest right in her own “little way,” whether that was a silent prayer or act of service.
Inspired to look back through The Hobbit again after Advocate’s recent blog post on the “10 Lessons in Community Leadership from The Hobbit, I found that the same chord rang true. When Gandalf selects Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, to play a crucial role in a quest against evil, many doubt his judgment. In reply, Gandalf states, “Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keeps the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
It’s easy to lose sight of the beauty life offers. With a constant drive for bigger and frivolous, or flashy and extravagant, the underlying good of the ordinary is neglected. If we all took the time to appreciate the little joys and perform a few small acts of kindness, we may inch closer in our quest to “keep the darkness at bay.” So go star-gazing. Read your younger brother a book. Mow your elderly neighbor’s yard. Appreciating the beauty of life without feeling the need to accessorize it is a step towards becoming truly human.
Natalie Smith is a sophomore McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. She is majoring in English and minoring in Political Science.