As a "theater kid" who didn't always get the parts I hoped for, I have heard the phrase "there are no small parts, only small actors" more times than I can count.
And, as much as I hated to admit it, it's true that a small part can have a big impact on a scene or show if it's done well. It may even be the part of the show that "surprises and delights" people so they come out of the show talking about it. The key question is whether the person playing that part was really able to "own" it, to make the most out of it, and to feel that it was important.
Of course, this is true for more than just parts in a theater production. If we want the help of someone, whether the help is for a small thing or a big thing, we have to make it feel that the help requested is critically important. Too often this a mistake organizations make with volunteers. The organization tries to downplay the extent of the work, hoping to make it easier for someone to say "yes, I'll help," but by downplaying the work, they also often downplay how valuable the effort would be to the organization. When a person gives their time, they want to know that what they are doing will make a difference. They want to know their contribution is needed and appreciated.
Last week a friend told me a great story that brought this to mind and it's all about walnuts.
Each year as Passover approached, her mom would sit the three children down at the kitchen table with the all important job of cracking the whole walnuts, digging out the meat, and grinding it for use in charoset, kugels, and more. It went on for days leading up to the holiday and together the children filled many containers of crushed walnuts for use on Passover and throughout the year. My friend said that her mom made them feel that Passover would not be Passover without these nuts getting cracked and ground. Only years later did my friend find out that her mom knew there were pre-chopped nuts available. This was just her way of keeping the kids occupied! But her mom gave them the gift of making them feel their task was vital and appreciated. Isn't that what we all want?
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