We may not be big . . .

“We may not be big, but we’re small.”

That’s the motto for the Vinyl Café, a fictional, used-record shop at the centre of a collection of stories by the late Canadian broadcaster and author Stuart McLean. Stuart’s stories are celebrated for their warmth, humour, and gentle reflections on everyday life. Vinyl Café tales spring from mundane happenings such as battling a new fangled vacuum cleaner, misadventures at a water-park, and, most famously, cooking a turkey. Consistently funny, often touching, these stories surprise with how they plumb the truth in the smallest, humble events and catch us up in simple, profound matters of the heart. Indeed, they are not big, but small.

That motto resonates with us. So often, it’s the small things that make a difference in our lives, isn’t it? The kind word; a single bloom in a delicate vase; a ripe, red berry; the scent of lilacs on a spring breeze; a gentle touch.

Not to say that big things –– festivals, fireworks, feasts –– don’t bring joy and stir the soul. They do. Absolutely. Yet, small things, when we let them, have a way of focusing our minds and bringing us back to ourselves, refreshed. And they only need a moment to do so.

We focus on doing small things carefully, gently, and with finely-tuned intention. We offer brief yet spacious time for contemplation and protected, equitable space for conversation. We limit the number of participants so we can see and hear one another comfortably and generously. We may not be big….

There are enough big things happening in our world right now. Perhaps it’s time to claim a small quiet moment. You could join us.