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 Some
years back I read an uninspired proverb, and thought it very
smart indeed. It said, “Big people talk about ideas, mediocre
people talk about things, and little people talk about people.”
The idea was used as a basis for an early article.
A
search for the why rather than a preoccupation with who
or what is an indication of objectivity. It marks an
effort to discover and apply sound principles by which things
may be put in proper perspective, and people benefited. Yes,
concern with ideas is a characteristic of great people. And yes,
it may be contrasted with the narrowness of “little” people
who are self-centered, and see no farther than the end of their
nose. Rereading my original article (V.2, N.7) it seems no major
changes are required.
But
there were important things left unsaid. As years and experience
increase — hopefully tempered by accumulated evidence if not
by wisdom — it seems that the original appraisal of the
proverb was one-sided. There is nothing “little” in being
concerned about people. In fact, one may contrast the “head-in-the-sky”
idealist with the warm personal concern of a people-lover, and I’ll
vote for the
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later. Idealism that is not put into practice
becomes a cold meaningless exercise. Nothing big about that.
Some
of the “biggest” people I have known were somewhat lost in
abstract conversations. They had never learned to philosophize
about their neighbors. But they felt for them, and translated
that feeling into concrete action on a people-to-people level.
Jas. 1:27 is directed to individuals, and was never intended as
a money-raising slogan for institutions.
As
people become votes to politicians, cases to social workers,
bodies to physicians and maybe numbers and contributors to
churches — we have had it. It is very possible that the
preservation of society may one day balance precariously in the
mind of a button-pusher who must decide between ideologies,
material possessions, and people. Let us hope and pray that he
will be a “little” person who cares for “one of the least
of these” (Matt. 25:40, 45).
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