“Small moves, Ellie” is a line spoken near the beginning and repeated towards the end of the movie, Contact. I attended a retreat quite a while back where the speaker shared clips from this movie and then we discussed the spiritual implications. I have love Contact ever since then, watching it frequently.
“Small moves, Ellie,” advises the father of the main character as a child, Ellie Arroway, who is a young ham radio operator. Her father is coaching her at her radio not to turn the dial too quickly and to move a radio dial very slowly in order to hear the frequencies in-between. He tells her “Small moves, Ellie, small moves.”
“Small moves” is also a pivotal movement in Ellie’s transformation as an adult when she experiences an encounter with a person from another planet (looking like her father so she is not afraid). When she is full of confusion, questions, and uncertainty about what happens next, he says with tender love once again, “Small moves, Ellie.”
If you are reading this post from the email, you may need to go to the blog post to see this movie scene.
“Small moves” guides me through moments of confusion, questions, and uncertainty too.
- When I am overwhelmed.
- When fog shrouds the road ahead.
- When doubts beat me down and I feel alone.
The words become a reassuring breath prayer in times of fear and chaos.
“Small moves” reminds me to take one step at a time. To trust God in leading me. To breath more calmly, knowing more deeply, all will be well with God’s love besides and within me. To slow down enough to hear God’s quiet voice and to savor his tender love.
“Small moves, Ellie, Jeanie,” God whispers.
When have you experienced God’s guidance and love in small moves?
oh yes. thank you for giving us all permission not to expect everything at the drop of a hat … or for our lives to turn around on a dime. you’ve taken the pressure off, friend. and that’s a very good thing …
I needed the reminder too. It is a strong visual from the movie!
This is so good, Jean. I’ve been known to run ahead of God and/or leap to conclusions of my own making! But You are so right. God wants to lead us in small moves, step-by-step. “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23 NLT). May I choose the godly way and follow the small moves he’s chosen for me.
Small moves encourages me too – not so scary to take one step at a time. Love the Psalm quote!
Thanks, Jean, for reminding us that small moves will do us more good than headlong rushes into situations we’re not sure about. I do try to stop and breathe when I feel overwhelmed or at a loss. I know God will show me the way to go.
Blessings!
Headlong is such a image filled word, isn’t it? looking down, not up. leading with the ego, not the spirit. Yes yes God will show the way!
Thank you jean…beautiful reminder…i did see that movie…i have it and will watch it again now…
Small moves reminds me of feel8n anxious…sad..fearful…and the tactic of….can you get thru the next 5 mins??…if not..the next minute??..10 secinds??…small moves…
Small moves means a lot to me too. Glad you liked that movie too. Says much about faith getting along with science. the And/both instead of either/or.