Do you have a bucket list? You know of list of things you want to accomplish someday before you die. I don’t have one written down, but I’ve had a mental bucket list for a long time. One of the things on my list is learning to play the game of chess. I’m unsure why but it was never on the shelf of my house growing up and therefore I was always intimated by the game and thought it was way too hard to learn. Secretly it’s been on my bucket list and something I’ve had a desire to learn for many years. Last year I watched a television series focused on the game, and it renewed my curiosity, and I was up for the challenge. On Mother’s Day, much to my surprise my husband bought me a Chess set. No excuses now, right? Well, it has sat in the box until yesterday, on Father’s Day we pulled it out and though a little rusty himself, Jeff taught me how to play. Patiently waiting as, I talked through each move as though my life depended on it. It was hard to remember the names of the pieces, how they moved and were able to take other pieces. But eventually I caught on and became a little more confident. Maybe it will become our game of choice for the summer, at the very least I can mentally check that box off my bucket list… and that feels good.
After learning about the different pieces and their unique role in the strategy of the game, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the passage of scripture in 1 Corinthians 12. “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So, it is with the body of Christ. But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”
Just as each part of the chess board plays a unique role so do each of us as members of our church and more importantly members of God’s Family. Each person is important in telling God’s story. From greeters on Sunday mornings to Kid’s Sunday School Teachers and everything in between. The roles that are visible and those behind the scenes paint a beautiful picture of the harmony God desires for his body. I encourage you to begin the journey of discovering your role. Now is the time for us to show our community and the world that harmony among people is possible when we have Christ as our foundation with one goal in mind to offer the love of Jesus with every person we encounter. Our church needs you… and God needs you to make the body whole.
By: Jeannie Troutman, Minister of Engagement