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April 28, 2010

Do Your Thing

by by Nicole Unice

Tracy is a thirty-something mom living out her faith. The embodiment of her compassion has curly hair, mocha eyes and a healthy appetite—a six-week old foster child she keeps as a volunteer in a Christian crisis care organization. Last month, I visited Tracy for a few days. I watched her care for this sweet baby boy, marveling and worrying like a true mother. Her love and service touched me deeply.

And I wanted none of it.

I pondered on the long drive home. I knew that Tracy was doing important work. She was changing a life and influencing others with a tangible expression of “love your neighbor.” But as much as I admire Tracy, I didn’t rush to fill out any foster baby forms.

My friend Anne is another big-hearted woman who loves God. She is currently arranging backyard Bible clubs—in her backyard and others—so that she can teach her children and their friends this summer. Anne expresses her Jesus-passion in songs and crafts and joy that makes children love her.

And I want none of that.

Backyard Bible clubs and foster babies? It’s just…not my thing.

A recent post, “Can We Serve Too Much?” generated some great discussion about how much—and why—we serve others. Is there a limit to what we give? Is there an art to the spiritual discipline of meeting needs?

We know that compassion is a central focus of our faith. If God had a business card, his job title would be “compassionate and gracious.” He almost trips over himself in the Old Testament, telling his people repeatedly about his merciful and loving character.

It was no different for his Son. Whenever the Gospels mention Jesus’ compassion, he takes action. He does something with his feelings. He teaches, heals, feeds, and prays for the people who seek his care.

But here’s the thing: he doesn’t meet every need.

At the pool in Jerusalem, Jesus healed the paralytic—but how many crippled bodies and broken souls did he step over?

At the village of Nain, Jesus raised the young son of a widow from the dead—but how many funerals did he attend as a mourner?

On the hillside by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus fed thousands—but how many hungry beggars did he walk by in his life?

On earth, Jesus taught, healed, fed, and prayed— he did his thing. But while Jesus took on flesh, he didn’t do it all. I wrestle with the divine plan of Jesus’ humanity. Of his chosen limits of power on earth. I wrestle with it, but I appreciate it. I wonder if Jesus felt frustrated by his limitations. I wonder if he felt the human-ness of experiencing unmet needs in a world crying out for more.

The evening I returned from Tracy’s, I snuck away from unpacking for a Sunday evening retreat to the grocery store. A teenager with bright eyes and a cheerful voice packed my bags. We struck up a conversation. In the four minutes that it took to load my car, my friend “Q” told me about the four-mile walk to work, almost every day of the week. “Will you walk home tonight?” I said, glancing down at his shoes and up at the night sky as I opened my door. “Yes ma’am…sometimes I can’t get to my homework because it’s so late. But,” he said, in an upbeat tone, “I always get my homework done, even if I have to get up early.”

I spun around to catch Q’s eyes. “Do you want a bike?” Q smiled at me, stammering a bit, and nodded. His wide grin sparked my own as I replied, “I’ll be back.”

That evening, I posted on my Facebook status: “who’s got a bike they don’t use?” Fifteen minutes later, I had wheels. The next day, I picked up the bike and giddily drove to the grocery store, hoping Q would be there. That was the best part of my week—’cause I was doing my thing. It wasn’t a foster baby or a Bible club. But it was a response to a deep feeling in my heart—the whisper of do something.

Perhaps we walk by opportunities to serve on our way to doing the things God wired us each uniquely to do. And our individual efforts, our things, are a glorious picture of the beauty and diversity of the body working in unity to express “thy kingdom come.”

Let’s celebrate that diversity together. You tell us: what’s your thing?

Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on April 28, 2010 9:51 AM

Comments

God gives us each different gifts, and filling different types of needs speak to each of us.

That is how He meets every need, by giving each of us different talents and different ways that we serve. You meet the need of the boy with the bike. Your friend meets the need of the foster care child. And so on.

We aren't meant to do it all alone or to carry the weight of the world alone. We're meant to do it all together, in community, each person using what God gave them.

Thanks for the thought-provoking post!
deb

Posted By: Deb Owen | April 28, 2010 11:09 AM

Thanks - I loved this! My thing? Encouraging and mentoring younger women in business...speaking encouraging words...offering up worship and authentic songs to help people connect with God.

Posted By: Emma | April 30, 2010 7:55 AM

I have a young woman in my Bible Study group who has fostered children for years. She recently stopped fostering because she and her husband adopted three of their foster children (brothers) all with special needs. She 'blows my mind' with her compassion and mothering skills. I'm so glad God chose to give us different gifts and talents. I'll stick to teaching!

Posted By: Joan Henwood | April 30, 2010 9:50 AM

I love, love, love this! People put me on a pedestal and expect me to have all these answers because I am a leader and I put myself out there. They have said to me they feel if they aren't doing the things I am doing than somehow they are lacking. I can't seem to communicate to them that we are the body and we are not all given the same gifts, talents, desires, and stirrings. My "thing" is I am a big picture people mover. I stink at the finer details of making things happen. But I'm pretty good at seeing the vision and finding the right people to make it happen.

Posted By: Carissa Figgins | May 4, 2010 9:29 AM

I am a leader in My work place and i a Rotary Club and i have a lot of Young women looking up tome. i keep trying to make them realise th individuality in every one of us which expects us to discover outr God given talent and strive to be ourselves and no oneelse.

Posted By: ijeoma | May 5, 2010 5:57 AM

What a wonderful article. We need to understand each of us has certain areas of expertise in His Kingdom. Mine is greeting in the church, looking around to see people no one is talking to and approach them, discerning unspoken needs within the body and outside the body of believers. I particularly try to help homeless people by buying them a meal. LET'S ALL USE THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM.

Posted By: Barb | May 7, 2010 3:25 PM

Thank you for the post. I often hear women admonish others to do "fill in the blank with whatever they are doing." I have even sensed the disapproval of myself and others who are not serving in the same areas as whoever is doing the admonishing.

I am equipped and called to be a Sunday school teacher and speaker to women of all ages. God has also equipped me to give a listening ear and the discernment for when to ask are you O.K.? I see object lessons all around me that will help teach the Scripture. I take great delight in both the preparation to teach or speak, as well as in the speaking to others what God has taught me while preparing. Not because I am so smart, or that anything I have to say is important, but because I am so aware that God is in control and that He is accomplishing His purpose in and through me. The joy and blessing of obedience touches me and allows me to minister to others. They splash over and others are blessed by God through me.

I am not equipped to serve in the nursery or teach children, for example. I am as uncomfortable as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs...

I often think of John4:34 and the words of Jesus to His disciples: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." Also Ephesians 2:9 where we are told: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Nowhere in Scripture am I taught that I am to finish another person's work.

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 3:7 "...I became a [fill in the blank with your calling and gifts] according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power."

God has helped me understand what ministries and activities fit my particular gifts and calling. I know when it fits me, and I am so filled with excitement and awareness of His anointing when I am doing the work He prepared for me. The opposite is also true. When I accept or choose something because it is a good thing or someone convinced me to accept, I am, in short order, overwhelmed and exhausted. Spiritually drained.

Thank you for addressing this issue and the encouragement that comes from knowing I am not the only one.

My prayer for you: That you all may know who you are in Christ and understand that the power that works in you is the same power with which God the Father raised His son from the dead. This is the same great power toward us who believe. This is the power that will enable each of us to accomplish the will of the Father. (Ephesians 1:17-23)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! (James 1:17)

Posted By: Susan F. | May 14, 2010 8:39 AM

I like this!! Im always calling myself 'the odd one out'. Im not a home mum, been a working mum all my life, now even in part time ministry, while also running my own business...but don't ask me to bake a cake for tea after church, standing at the table selling goods for fundraising,,, name it!!!

I love to make clothes in my free time, something different, like the ones we buy at boutiques here in SA. When Im having a women's conference in the rural parts of our country between the coloured (Americans call it mixed raced) people, who are very poor, I choose a lady out of the group whom in my eyes, would appreciate this outfit most and give them a makeover.
Most of the times this women start crying, they not used to new in-fashion clotes. This is my passion - my ministry to women in the rural parts as well as spoiling them with a new dress.

Posted By: Nerina Smith South Africa | May 14, 2010 3:41 PM

Thank you so much sis for sharing your part in the body of Christ, and also encouraging others to share their part of the whole.
I preach the Word of God, counsel people, pray for the non-believers, and motivate people in general. As a leader, I also enjoy inviting the lonely and discouraged to my home, and share a meal, and gospel music, and listen to their concerns. There are many people who would just like to have a friend to whom they can be themselves and share their concerns. In my area where I live, I seek to show Christ's love, to those who live close by, by inviting them to a meal. If it is someone's birthday, I would give them some kind of token to let them know that they are remembered by someone in this world. I also look for ways by which I can encourage someone, by telephone, or give healthy tips due to my nutritional knowledge. My passion is ministry to others, not just the preached Word of God. I like to let people know that they are important and valuable in this world, and to God's kingdom. When I pass people on the street, with a health issue, I whisper a prayer for them; look at the news channel, and pray for people or persons who for one reason or another are in need, such as the recent Tornadoes. I feel blessed when I see others doing what God mandated them to do, and not to try to do what others think they should do, like some leaders want people to fit into their thinking moulds, of the kind of activity a person must do. A person can only excel in the God-given talent he or she knows, and is willing to serve.

Posted By: Abigail | March 4, 2012 7:46 PM

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