Walking in the North American Adirondacks my wife and I paused. The day was hot and the miles walked long, our thirst needed quenching. Our eyes fell on a drinks dispenser which was sadly flashing ‘empty’. A van pulled up and the driver walked around to the passenger door and proceeded to guide the passenger, a blind man, to the drinks machine.
Busily the driver ferried supplies to and from the van whilst the other man unrolled his tool kit and took the machine apart – stripping the coin mechanism with amazing dexterity. The two guys laughed – having fun as they worked. More than colleagues – we discovered they were brothers-in-law. The competence and confidence of the blind man entertained us and we enjoyed the fruit of his labour in the form of a cold drink once he’d finished.
When I think of the gargantuan task of sharing the love of God with the world around me I sometimes weaken at the thought of how ill equipped I am. A whole list of what I can’t do comes readily to mind. Paul the Apostle pointed out to the church in Corinth that what I feel today was true then too – it was normal.
In the Message Bible 1 Corinthians 12 verse 27-30 gives us a vivid and expressive depiction of what it means to be part of a body that has a function best understood when at work in the body. “You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body”: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, organizers, those who pray in tongues.
But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts”.
Wow – it sort of ends with a telling off! Almost ‘get on with your own job and be content with your part’.
When I think back to those two guys in the Adirondacks – it was obvious the sighted chap could have learned how to fix the machine and cut his brother-in-law out. But would he have enjoyed his work? Would he have felt there was something missing?
It might be an idea today that we recognise our gifts form part of a balanced, rounded community. That who we are is less obvious if we live in isolation. We have been uniquely gifted and placed in an inter-dependent group of people – a team of sisters and brothers – if you will.
Rob Wykes 