Out of the Chaos

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:18-26

This portion of scripture can be a bit puzzling at first. Maybe that is just me. I read pretty fast and I don’t read all the words. That got me into trouble yesterday. I asked my daughter if she needed me to pick Finley up at daycare. She asked her husband and then responded: “He does want you to pick her up.” I read: “He doesn’t want you to pick her up.” And I responded: “OK”. A few hours later, when I still hadn’t picked her up, and I had left my phone inside while I worked in our landscaping, I had a frantic daughter and an annoyed husband. I said I didn’t want to babysit my phone outside. He said he didn’t want to babysit me. Ha! Anyway, I digress. I should read all the words.

Here is the gist of this passage: the body has many parts. Some of them need special care so we clothe those parts and treat them with great care. The more honorable parts – like our heads for instance – don’t need special care. They can just be all showy and out for everyone to see. The stomach and intestines, on the other hand, are encased in our abdomen, covered with skin and muscle for protection. God put the body together so that the parts that need special care are in a place where they can receive it. The body works together to take care of itself. And in this way, we stay healthy and strong.

In order to care for our physical body, there are times when we abstain from certain foods. For example, my sister developed eczema. Now she had never been bothered with this before, but suddenly it appeared everywhere. In an effort to rid her body of this skin affliction, she quit eating gluten. Her head loves bread and pasta and beer, but because she cares for her whole body, she foregoes the pleasure of eating gluten. And it has produced good results in her skin.

This must be how we care for one another in the body of Christ and in our communities. We don’t all have the same function, but we are all important and provide a necessary service. Some are more showy, but may actually be less important. Others are less noticeable, but provide a part that would be immediately missed if not done.

Are you walking out your God-given role in community? Who could you encourage along the way? Is there anyone who provides a less noticeable role that needs a little boost? Let’s work together to make a healthy community that functions at its best.

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Dave and I attended a traditional church when we were first married. By traditional, I mean the church had a Sunday School hour for both children and adults followed by a corporate service with preaching and music. The Sunday School classes for adults were also divided by gender and age.

In the fall, classes reorganized with new teachers and a mix-up of students (you were assigned a class if there were too many in one age group for a single class.) Soon after we were married I was asked to teach an adult ladies class.

I was quite young and I had never done that before, but I decided to give it a try. And I LOVED it!! I loved the preparation, the teaching, everything about it. We also had a course that taught the teachers how to teach. I loved that too. Basically, I loved learning and then passing that on to others in a way that was enjoyable, memorable, inspiring and challenging. I had found my niche!

The best way to discover what you are put together to do is to try different things. You will know almost immediately if it is the right fit. When I was getting my undergrad degree many of my classmates were double majoring in ministry and human services (social work). I talked to my adviser about it and she suggested I take Introduction to Human Services. So I did. I knew by the end of the first class I would not double major. Human Services just wasn’t my thing.

Is there something you are drawn to but aren’t sure about? Give it a try. If it sparks joy in your heart, pursue it. If it doesn’t, let it go. The best indicator for me if something fits is what it does on the inside. Does it energize and fuel me? Do I come away feeling inspired and joyful? Or does it drain me and create anxiety?

I would love to hear what you are trying and how you are stepping into new areas of responsibility!