Start Small

I try to work out every day. My long time trainer Dino Mosley instructed me several years ago to alternate my workouts, so I rotate between swimming, weight-lifting, yoga, and climbing the Santa Monica Stairs (henceforth to be referred to as the SMS) . Of these workouts, I think that climbing the SMS’s is my favorite. It is also probably the hardest. I’ve been climbing them for 17 years, and I promise it hasn’t gotten any easier. On most days, I can do between 15 and 20 reps (A rep is up and down one time. And there are 176 stairs!) before I tire.

Now let me quickly add that it wasn’t always that way. I vividly remember the first time Dino took me to the stairs. I almost passed out. LOL. I remember tasting blood in my mouth, and had knots and aches in my legs for weeks. I think I may have done 1 rep—and that may be an exaggeration. All I know is that my first outing didn’t go well. But I kept at it—rain or shine. And gradually, my legs strengthened and my cardiovascular system improved. Now, other people look at me with same envious eyes that I used to look at Dino as he seemed to glide effortlessly up and down those wooden stairs without taking a breath or a break. I had to remind one of my haters earlier this week that my skill on the SMS did not come overnight. Like most achievements, it came gradually. Literally step by step (no pun intended). I reminded him of what Dino told me when I first started: that to succeed, I would have to start small.

One of the most common sources of discouragement is our unfortunate tendency to want to get our “superman on” and ascend to the pinnacle of whatever mountain we are trying to climb in a single bound. We want to lose 30 pounds in a week, earn a million dollars in a month, and become the boss in a year. But while we must think big, in order to achieve lasting success we must start small. Small victories build your confidence. Small victories increase your capacity. Small victories fortify your courage. And perhaps most importantly, small victories lead to big victories.

This is one of the many lessons that we can draw from the classic story of David and Goliath. That story easily ranks as one of the best known and most loved tales in all of scripture. A young, unknown shepherd boy triumphs over a battled tested, physically superior warrior with nothing but a sling shot. That story is a perpetual reminder that bigger is not always better, that experience isn’t always an advantage, and that God can use anybody at anytime to do anything.

One of my favorite parts of that story is the conversation that David has with Saul, the King of Israel. Although Saul has the position of King, he does not have the heart of one. He lacks courage, and he and all of Israel are afraid to confront the Giant Goliath who has intimidated Israel. David finds his way onto the battlefield and announces his intention to defeat Goliath. He is immediately ushered into Saul’s presence, and they have the following exchange:

Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” 1 Samuel 17:32-37

Saul was convinced that David couldn’t win the battle against Goliath because of his inexperience. Saul has made the faulty assumption that this is David’s first fight. But David quickly reminded Saul that Goliath was not his first fight. In fact, David was bringing an impressive resume to the battle. He had previously fought (and triumphed over) both a lion and a bear. Now here’s the point: Goliath was big. He was bigger than both the lion and the bear. But if you notice, David didn’t try to fight Goliath first. Goliath was third. The bear (which was smaller than Goliath) was second. And the lion (which was smaller than the bear) was first. David didn’t start with Goliath. David started with the lion. And with each victory, his confidence was built, his capacity was increased, and his courage was fortified. Each smaller victory led to the larger one.

You may be discouraged right now because you are in a situation that you think it is too small for you. But perhaps you are exactly where God wants you to be. Zechariah 4:10 implores us to not despise the day of small beginnings. Small beginnings lead to big endings.

So don’t try to read the whole Bible tomorrow. Try to read, understand and apply one verse.

Don’t try to lose 40 pounds this week. Try to eat an apple each day.

Don’t try to become a morning person overnight. Try to wake up 10 minutes earlier.

Don’t try to fight your Goliath right away.

Look for a lion.

Then a bear.

Then, and only then will you be ready for Goliath