Madeleine L’Engle (author of one of my most treasured childhood reads, A Wrinkle in Time) wrote in A Stone for a Pillow:
Perhaps what we are called to do may not seem like much. But consider what one scientist has called “the butterfly effect”: even a butterfly moving its wings has an effect on galaxies thousands of light-years away.
In John 12, we read the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet on this day in what we call Holy Week. Such a small, yet extravagant, thing she did. And we still wonder at it. And fail to measure up to such entire yet simple devotion!
Prayer for today from The Book of Common Prayer —
Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.