People are all very unique. They have their likes and dislikes, with different idiosyncrasies, personalities, and life experiences. God handpicks each of these characteristics for each specific person, and while different, each distinctly reflects God. Take the artist reflecting God’s creative nature, He is, after all, the Creator. And the engineer and soldier with order and discipline reflecting God’s order in things. Or the architect, a balance of both. Every person is as beautiful as the sun setting in the sky, reflecting the Creator’s craftsmanship.
It is interesting to watch people, and see how they interact with the world around them. It can say a lot about them. In new situations, I tend to watch. I take in everything, and yes, I judge it. Everyone does. I try to quietly contemplate what I see, and determine why things are a certain way. I like to evaluate things and rarely take time to just enjoy them. My thinking does lead me to greater understanding, particularly of myself. I tend to be a bit introspective, so I know myself well.
Throughout my many life experiences, different things have brought me together with a variety of people. Similar careers, similar passions, similar calling, similar location. Some of those experiences brought me together with like-minded people, others have allowed me to work with those very different from me. And it doesn’t take much to be different from me 🙂
God made me, like everyone else, extremely unique. Jeremiah 1:5 stated Jeremiah’s purpose, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God has a purpose for each of us as well, and we were uniquely crafted to fulfill this purpose.
Here’s me…To say I am introverted in an understatement, while to say I am quiet can be quite deceiving. I can talk the ear off my closest friends; just ask them. I don’t appreciate small talk, which makes getting to know new people rather interesting. I prefer to watch people and see how they are. I am very independent and tend to be a touch on the stubborn side. I like to have a highly structured and organized environment. I question things that don’t make sense to me and come across a bit abrasive or overly harsh at times when I tend to be very direct. I love time to myself, and time with a very small group of people. I am highly intelligent and have extremely high standards and expectations that even I fail to maintain. And that is just the broad overview.
I am reminded of Psalms 139:13, “For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.” These character traits of mine God knew before I existed. He will use them to grow me and to serve His purposes.
Throughout my life, God has blessed me with people very different from myself. Some are extroverted, others less structured, others hold different beliefs be they religious or political, and these are just a few examples. Through these people, I have grown to appreciate our differences. Sometimes those differences can be a source of conflict, other times the similarities are. In each circumstance, God uses people to teach me something and to remind me to view others as He does, and as He views me. It is not my place to condemn people, that is God’s job. I know if not for Christ, I, along with everyone else, would be condemned. That is what we all deserve. I am called to love people.
I have found when each person’s strengths are used to benefit the whole, we are so much more than we could ever be alone. God has created a beautiful synergy. 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 states, “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?”
This highlights God’s desire for us to be in community. We are built to be interdependent, not to live in isolation. We each serve a specific function to better the group. I often must remind myself this…1 Peter 4 is a call, “Based on the gift each one of you has received, use is to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.”
– Angela Fontanelli, GEM missionary