Something Old, Something New

      One of my favorite lessons came around in church this past Sunday.  It is 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 where Paul writes to the people of Corinth and tells them the good news that each of us is called into God's fold inspite and because of our differences.  Each of us has different gifts, but we are all part of the greater Body of Christ.  As Paul writes,

                             But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, 
                             as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be? 
                            As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say 
                            to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "
                           I have no need of you."

Paul uses this analogy, comparing the physical body to the spiritual Body, to reinforce the idea that our differences are a necessary part of God's kingdom.  Not only should we value our differences, but we should understand them as necessary means to a fully-operating spiritual community.
     Appreciating differences is so important for these reasons and because, frankly, differences are inevitable and part of our human existence.  To deny our differences or to use them as means of creating hierarchy are poor alternatives.  Are these our only options?  Do we have the choice either only to celebrate differences or to shun them? No, because we are also invited to experience sameness.
     It is easy to read Paul's words and look solely at the message which tells us to cherish that which is different.  This is especially true in our modern contexts.  But what about that which is the same?  We all share in the human experience - we are all capable of feeling pain, joy, anger and love.  This interpersonal sameness helps us understand each other better and express compassion as Christ calls us to do.  Likewise, in our personal lives, sameness happens in our day-to-day activities and even throughout events in our lifetime.  We wake up and sleep, we eat and drink and we go about the work we have to do.
      So, how do we celebrate our similarities? The sameness in our lives?  In today's Prayer, we ask God to help us during the start of another semester to see his grace and presence in those things which we have seen so many times before.  Yes, it is easy to look at "sameness" and think "stagnant" or "monotonous," but the mundane (like the spontaneous or new) is also a part of God's creation.  How do we appreciate it?  Part of this is recognizing the small differences in seemingly similar experiences.  But the other part is understanding that our lives are patterned and sometimes repetitive because God is calling us to revisit something important: a person, a place or a virtue.
       We are called again and again by God to draw closer to Him and to the work he has set before us.  Sometimes he reveals new gifts, new challenges and new missions.  Sometimes, he calls us to practice that which will make us stronger through patience.  When we appreciate differences, between ourselves and others and between each of our experiences,  we can find harmony where there once was dissonance.  And, when we recognize sameness, we have an opportunity to practice patience and compassion.