“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” -1 Corinthians 12:12
Last week, our staff was treated a great lunch, just before our staff meeting. Our lunch was pizza from Hideaway Pizza. I was in line to get pizza with my friend Doug. Doug is on our communications team here at St. Luke’s. Doug looked at me and told me that he was excited because his favorite pizza was one of the options. It turns out his favorite pizza is the Paradise Pie from Hideaway.
Once Doug told me that his favorite pizza was the Paradise Pie we started a small debate in the line. I told him that my favorite pizza was Da Bomb from Hideaway. I shared about the ingredients on my pizza. I thought, for sure, that he would come to see that my pizza was superior to his, but Doug did not wavier on his position. We were unable to come to an understanding.
I have known Doug since we were teenagers. We have served in missions, led camps, and worked in various ministries together for years. How could we do so much together and have such different tastes? I wonder how this new found difference will affect our work together?
To be clear, our debate was rather silly. Both pizzas are good and our differences in opinion have no real effect on the work we do and the ministry to which God has called us to serve.
As I sat at the table, eating my pizza, I could not help but think about how easy it is for us to focus on our differences. We often look past the good we have in our relationships with one another and focus on one negative item (some small and some significant.)
God created each of us. We are unique individuals, by design. We were created to do good things. We do even better things when we work together, using our distinctive gifts, to bless others. Our differences are important. They should not divide us but help us work together to bless others. It is not easy to see past our differences, but when we remain focused on sharing God’s love and bringing hope to the world, God can open our eyes to see beyond peperoni, and other differences to make a difference in this world.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
