"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." -- Helen Keller
The word noble has several definitions, two of which come into play here: One is "grand or impressive, especially in appearance." Many would think of a "great and noble task" as climbing Mt. Everest, writing a prize-winning novel, or finding a cure for cancer - all things that would attract the world's attention and applause.
The second definition is "Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor." When Keller talks about performing small tasks as if they were great and noble, she exemplifies such a noble character.
The two definitions are not mutually exclusive: Finding a cure for cancer could be a noble thing to do in both senses of the word. Few of us, however, are likely to accomplish grand or impressive things. All of us can accomplish small tasks with a noble spirit.
The words of Helen Keller remind me of two passages from the monastic Rule of Benedict, written in the 6th century. First, every guest is to be welcomed as if the guest were Christ himself (RB 53). Drawing on Matthew 25:35 ("I was a stranger, and you welcomed me"), Benedict teaches that the simple, everyday task of welcoming a guest is to be done with a noble spirit. Second is the instruction that the cellarer - the property manager of a monastery - is to regard all the tools of the monastery, and all of its property "as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar" (RB 31). This is not to promote fastidiousness, but a true reverence for the gift of each created thing.
To treat each person as if that person were Christ himself. To treat each object as a gift from God, to be used wisely and reverently. Let us accomplish small tasks as if they are great and noble.
--by Bill
