The Disney universe–not to mention the songwriting galaxy–lost a bright star Monday when songwriting legend Robert Sherman died at age 86 in London. The loss prompted the Disney company to dim the lights on Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre marquee Tuesday night, where “Mary Poppins” is currently playing.

Robert and his younger brother, Richard, composed scores for The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Mary Poppins, and the non-Disney Chitty Chitty Bang Band. We can also credit them for the tune stuck in the collective heads of Baby-Boomers everywhere: “It’s a Small World.”

The family dynasty in songwriting started with their father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter, Al Sherman. Papa Al’s songwriting mantra, according to Robert’s son, Jeffrey, was to, “…keep it singable, simple and sincere.” That’s great advice! Robert Sherman, you will be greatly missed.

I wrote a tribute to the Sherman brothers last December. Click here to read it .

“Too big to fail” or “We’ll be here forever” are famous last words for many. Just ask Kodak, the 131 year-old mega corporation that filed for bankruptcy in January.

While reading a compact history on my new hometown of Spring Hill, Tennessee, I learned of the burgeoning horse and buggy business that once supported many blacksmiths and repair shops in this area. Even as the automobile was making an introduction into rural, agricultural areas in the early 20th Century, the horse-drawn wagon was still at the heart of farming and transportation; roads were vulnerable to rain and ruts, so automobiles were only useful when the sun was shining. The blacksmiths had so much work, they probably never saw an end to their industry. I don’t think a single blacksmith is open for business here today.

Last night I watched a documentary on the history of Sears, Roebuck and Co. Richard Sears, a railroad agent from Spring Valley, Minnesota, procured a rejected shipment of watches and made them available to railroad workers for a fraction of the normal retail price. The watches were quickly sold, and Mr. Sears eventually saw an opportunity to supply rural communities with more items through his now-famous catalog. Early on, Sears hired Alvah Roebuck, a watch repairman, to help warranty the watches. In 1893, Roebuck soon became a partner, and together they established Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Chicago.

Roebuck parted ways in 1895 as the high-risk mentality of Mr. Sears proved too much for his highly-conservative sensibilities. That same year, key financier and future president/ chairman Julius Rosenwald came aboard to help stabilize and–after Sears died at age 50 in 1914–guide the company through the Great Depression and beyond.

Though the company made many incredible business decisions that would ensure their unchallenged retail presence in the U.S. for years to come, they would eventually be assaulted by new retail outlets like K Mart, Wal Mart and Target. The competition proved devastating to this once powerful giant. Who could imagine Sears stores being a thing of the past? To date, Sears has not made a yearly profit in 10 years and is slowly struggling to compete.

The problem with corporations, churches and people is that just when least expected, someone comes along with a better idea or a better delivery system. In the case of churches, the fundamental message must not be altered (God forbid), but the method of delivery must come under scrutiny in response to the needs of a changing society.

I’m reminded that nothing or no one is impervious to progress. I don’t want to become stagnant as a person, a businessman or a minister. My prayer is to be open to change, willing to listen to new ideas, learn how to more effectively reach people, and never fall for the deadly paradox: “I’ll be here forever.”

My dad’s home was filled with several generations of family memories and mementos. Our task was to move his household items from western North Carolina that he and my mom collected from over 50 years of marriage, within one weekend. It was a daunting task. But with my brother Jon and his family, my wife Brenda, our children and their spouses there to lend a hand, we worked until every box was packed, taped and marked. All-in-all, it took an accumulation of several months just to get everything to where we could load the two trucks on Saturday: one going to Birmingham with Jon, and the other heading to Nashville with Brenda, dad and me. That’s where Hearts With Hands came in and saved the day.

Hearts With Hands crew, Tom Harvill’s move, March 3, 2012

Hearts With Hands is a ministry of Cornerstone Fellowship, based in my dad’s community of Forest City. Cornerstone has been my dad’s church home ever since we helped charter it back in December, 1997. It’s a lay-led ministry, with outreach to the needy, elderly and others–extending the love of Christ in Rutherford County and beyond. Their designated project in March was to help move my dad out of his home.

With approximately 15 volunteers, the house was cleared and swept in under 2 hours. They even pulled up a trailer with a gas grill on the back to prepare hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. If it were not for their help, we would probably still be here working at Easter! Their love for my dad was so evident. He has sown much over the years in the lives of so many, and it was a natural expression of the church to help him in this great time of need.

I am so thankful to Cornerstone Fellowship, Hearts With Hands, and all of the volunteers who lifted, cleaned, packed, cooked, fed and, most importantly, served the Lord on behalf of my dad this weekend. It was truly an out-pouring of Christ’s love through service, and has greatly touched the hearts of my family. Bless you all!

God is a all about the “big picture.” Faith is the action that believers put forth as we trust God with the big and little stuff. He sees our lives from the beginning, to the end, and into eternity, so His perspective is what we must learn to employ. The problem comes when we focus on the “small picture” stuff; the little emergencies that blind us to the fact that God is in control, and has a life-plan for us.

Making a living, relationships, job promotions, preparations for a child’s education and our retirement–though all very important–are small picture items to God. My pastor, Rick White, preached last Sunday about the life of David. David’s seemingly unimportant role of herding sheep was a very important part of his life’s “big picture.” Though he would be anointed as future king, he went right back to being a shepherd until God called him to the next stage. I might have despaired, going back to that menial job after such a promotion.

It is so easy to let the “small picture” things in life grow to “big-picture” status. When hearing of individuals suffering with depression, I am saddened to learn of the pain that motivates them to take their own life. As an outsider, the particulars may seem trivial, but to the one who suffers with the prospect of continuing life with or without certain things, it is unbearable. Most of the time, those unbearable things can be dealt with in therapy and over time.  Their desperate attempt to relieve the pain robs us of their love and presence. Likewise, and spiritually speaking, the desperate reaction to difficult things in our lives rob God of the great opportunities He has in store for us.

When we allow God to be God, He is given permission to do things in our lives that may not make sense in our every day world. The trials we face today–be they financial, health related, relational, etc.–may be an important valley for us to travel on the way to the mountaintop that God has planned for us. God’s Word, faith, the encouragement of other believers, and our spiritual experience are all important, strength-building blessings in life. When we are tempted to give up too early, and the little things blind us, that’s when our faith is tested the most. When life is cruising along, and everything is going just as we planned, we don’t need God. It’s when our solutions fail that we truly look to God.

I write this because God has given me the opportunity to trust Him more this year than in any other time in my life. When circumstances get to the point of desperation, I know it’s time to  hide in the bushes and watch God do great miracles–all for the “big picture” in my life.

What does the future look like for the Amish? Only time will tell. But I hope their amazing practice of Christian grace doesn’t disappear with their culture.