Varied, and Yet the Same
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” (I Corinthians 12:4-6)
How do we observe this season of Epiphany, this after-Christmas, before-Lent, what-do-we-do-now time of year? Well, if you’re a Lutheran who serves on a committee in your congregation, you might have had a flashback to the not-so-good old days of writing term papers. For us, it’s an annual report, describing the various activities and services of the committee on which we serve. These verses from Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth remind us that our varied skills and abilities are all gifts from God, who will use them as he sees fit.
I’d like to share an experience from quite a few years ago and an insight that recently came to me. When I was a high school freshman, baby boys were born to two families in my church. I had known them since early childhood and was friends and classmates with one boy’s brother and the other’s sister.
Randy was a cute, bright little boy, both academically and musically gifted, truly a joy to his family and all who knew him. He graduated from college and seminary, and entered the ordained ministry. When he led worship at an anniversary event at our church, I thought how fortunate his congregation was to have such an exceptional pastor, and what a blessing his ministry must be to his church and his community.
Timmy was born with Downs’ Syndrome, and was dearly loved and cared for. His family brought him to church with them faithfully, and he was always greeted and welcomed. But he really couldn’t do very much. As time went on, his parents began to consider what his life would be like when the time came they could no longer care for him at home. Subsequently, they became the driving force behind the establishment of a group home for special needs adults that continues to serve their community 25-30 years later.
What I have come to realize is that a person who isn’t able to achieve in conventional ways makes a very real contribution by being who and what he or she is, because others may then be inspired or “activated” to accomplish something they’d never dreamed of. How many families have been blessed and enriched by Randy’s ministry? How many families have been blessed and had worries relieved by the ministry inspired by Timmy’s life? We’ll never know, and it doesn’t matter, because God found ways to use the gifts of these two lives for his good purpose.
When it comes to the varied gifts in a congregation or a community, it’s not up to us what they are and/or how they should be put to use – after all, it is God who activates them in everyone.
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers