In school it was a general rule that if the teacher said something three times it was going to be on the test. So in the past couple of days I have gotten a message three times. Here are those messages. I was watching the Blue Man Group last night and they said something interesting in an interview. Often as a part of their three person act two of the guys gang up on the one guy who is acting differently. They portray our society’s tendency to require conformity. The process is quite funny when watching the blue man group. It is done by looks they give each other.
Then while reading Quite Strength by Tony Dungy I noted what he said when he was speaking about his first head coaching job. On page 96 he talks about the logic of whom he chose for his staff. “While I was in Pittsburg observing Coach Noll, I had learned that you need all types of personalities on staff. The last thing I should do was surround myself with fifteen clones of me.”
Yesterday we had a one day staff retreat. On that retreat we did an exercise about our personality types. It was interesting learning about all of our staff’s personalities, and somewhat informative. I know this is a shock, but we are not all alike. We each have our strengths and weakness.
In Romans 12:6 it says “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” It then goes on to list the gifts; prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. Often Paul uses the example of the human body in comparison to the church. Differences for different functions, yet still forming one body. He points to us belonging to one body, with us belonging to one another.
So it should be no surprise that we are not all the same. The things that make us unique are often what God uses in service to him. Yet here is the catch, those differences can often drive us crazy, and often do. What is great is that Paul attaches this verse right after listing our differences. “Love must be sincere…Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” We must learn to care for one another—and part of that caring is learning about our differences. It is part of a process of learning to meet people right where they are. In the process of meeting people right where they are I am being made into the likeness of Christ.
Rev. Patrick Evans
