For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith;
ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity;
the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8
Have you ever heard of the '80/20 rule'? The 80/20 rule or the law of the vital few' or the Pareto Principle states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes (Bunkley, Nick (March 3, 2008), "Joseph Juran, 103, Pioneer in Quality Control, Dies", New York Times). In basic terms, it is the natural reason why you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time, use 20% of your yard tools or cooking utensils 80% of the time .... you get the idea.
Unfortunately the 80/20 rule also plays out in businesses and organizations: usually about 20% of the people generate about 80% of the results. In a church the size of the one I serve, that means everyone on the session and board of deacons plus another handful of folks are doing most of the work. Unless Paul is right and we take it to heart.
Because Paul also tells everyone not to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, but to know each and every one gains their meaning from life from their being connected to and part of the whole ---the whole which is the body of Christ as it is still incarnate and at work on earth right now in the world. Because we all have one piece of the puzzle of gifts needed to just begin to add up to a portion of who and what Christ is and does.
+ what are your greatest 2 or 3 spiritual gifts and how are you using them to serve God in and through your faith community?
+ how are you using those spiritual gifts in and through your family? community? school? workplace? organizations you belong to and participate actively in?
+ what are your greatest 2 or 3 spiritual weaknesses and who do you know that you are able to team up with to 'make up' for your deficit? What deficit does s/he have that you might be able to 'make up' for?
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| The ability to get children to play an Easter song on tone chimes so that it is actually recognizable with only a handful of short rehearsals --- now that's a gift! |
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| These may have grown up the railings of the manse front porch, but I did not 'grow' them! God and a custodian named Sandy did that all by themselves (and good thing , too -- I have a deadly thumb!) |
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| but some have a true gift |
 Anyone who has ever done a major renovation knows that most of us muddle along to do it, |
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| To do these jobs well requires both a calling and the gifts to be a crew together to help people in distress or trouble |
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| At Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico (see what I see on the mesa?) |
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| "HEART AND ROOTS" by Sarah Caldwell of Morgantown, WV, a budding young artist and granddaughter of a late parishioner (used by permission) |
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| Self-portrait at district pastor's picnic lunch after a rainfall |
