Unique And Quirky

I have been reading a Jan Karon book in her Father Tim series titled, "Shepherd'z Abiding". Jan Karon's Mitford series are such a delight to read.  Good, clean, faith based fiction books that give pause and bring joy.  You can even buy a book of "Father Tim quotes", there are so many treasures to hold on to.  Over 20 years ago Jan Karon spoke at Luther Seminary in St. Paul MN and Joel and I drove up to listen to her speak and to have the few books we had by her back then, autographed.  It was a great experience.

It has been quite awhile since I picked up one of her books, but I have been thoroughly enjoying it.  Father Tim and his wife Cynthia are now retired in the small town of Mitford North Carolina where he served as an Episcopalian priest to his unique and sometimes quirky congregation.

I cannot help but look back at the many churches Joel served over the years, each one unique with a few quirky members at times.  And are we not all unique and quirky in our own ways?  Each congregation with its own personality and purpose.  Oh what great memories we have for every place we called home, for every congregation that welcomed us.

And such adventures as we traveled in northern Montana where hawks, eagles, and antelope outnumbered the people.  And in Eastern Montana where Joel was able to baptize a 75 year old man and celebrate the eternal life that awaited him.  We still chuckle over one council meeting where it was put in the notes that the new pastor was wearing "inappropriate footwear" (square toed boots).  Joel was in need of new boots, so at the next council meeting he took off his new pointed toe boot put it on the table, asking the secretary to note that the new pastor now had appropriate footwear!  We ran into some very quirky people, and it was not always fun.......but the joy we experienced in the churches we served far outnumbered any negative experiences.

I love how Father Tim sees the good in all people.  How he quietly stands firm in what he believes without judging others.  For are we not all broken people, unique people, and even at times quirky?  God created each one of us as a masterpiece of His own making.  Our uniqueness is planned and used for God's purposes.  We can embrace who we are and trust God to guide us on our journey.

Do you have a congregation you sit among on Sunday mornings?  Do you observe the unique or quirky in the pews.........are you one of them?  Having served 7 churches and filled in or worked at 24 more over the years, we cannot help but smile at all the memories we have of those congregations that welcomed us.  Unique and sometimes even quirky as the members were......and us amongst them!

If you are looking for a good read.........a series that touches the soul, pick up a Jan Karon book.  You won't be disappointed, and it may give you a new perspective of your own home church!

Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Already Taken

"So, since we find ourselves fashioned 
into all these excellently formed 

and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, 

let us just go ahead and be what we were made to be, 

without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves 
with each other , 

or trying to be something we are not. "

Romans 12:5,6 (Message)

YOU are unique, created by our Creator to be so.  Unique is defined as being the sole example of, only one, without equal or rival.  Do we really get that?  I have been told by doctors for more years than I can remember that my body is "special".  Unique in how it functions, responds, acts.  It was not a compliment and I hated hearing it.  I just wanted to be "normal", whatever that was.  I just wanted to be like everyone else.

Reading Lisa Bevere's latest book and NY Bestseller, "Without Rival" I am getting a different perspective on this "unique" me.  It has been enlightening, comforting, educating to read what God whispered in her ear about His daughters.  What He wanted her to share with His children.  We hear over and over we are not what we do, how we look, where we live, but the secular world defines us as such.  We define ourselves by what we accomplish, comparing ourselves to others to see what standard we should uphold or reach for.  Yeah.

What a waste of God's handiwork as He with His Potter's hands lovingly shaped and formed each of us uniquely. Because we hear we need to be more "Christ-like" we seek to be someone else, someone better, stronger, more loving, etc.  And yet we are told in the Bible that Holy Spirit changes us, our own efforts are really fruitless.  So how do we seek to be more "Christ-like" while accepting ourselves.  We begin by embracing who God created us to be. By loving the person you see in the mirror.  Our identity comes from God, not what we do, how we look, or how we live.  Our uniqueness is from God.  As we love ourselves, we are giving thanks to our Creator who loves us beyond our understanding.

"God loves each of us as if there was only one of us."

St. Augustine 

God loves each of us as if there was only one of us because there is only one of us.  It blesses and pleases God when we don't compare ourselves to others, or try to be someone else.  Just be ourselves.

So we ask the question, "Who are we?"  Our identity comes from God and who HE says we are.  We are God's child, a daughter or son of the King.  We are uniquely created by our Creator.  Who does God say we are?  Who does God say you are?  Sit quietly and listen to what He puts in your heart.  Let Him speak to His beloved and remind you who you are. Embrace and love yourself, be yourself, because everyone else is already taken!