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The Chance for
Something Greater
by Will McCabe
“You are an incredible human being, you know that?” “You are one of a
kind.” “There is no one like you.”
Those phrases ordinarily are said to be uplifting. However, sometimes
they can give the opposite effect. Your uniqueness can overwhelm you,
your differences stick out so much so often that you feel isolated and
alone. There is no one like you.
As a result of these glaring differences, you feel like you should be
ashamed that you are not similar to the people around you. As if you
are supposed to look, act, talk, or think like everyone else! You get
the impression of silent oppression.
When dealing with these feelings, you become embarrassed about your
personal beliefs and the struggles you have faced. You create paranoia
and trust issues, guarding yourself so fervently and holding yourself
so tightly that you fall apart under the pressure. You feel like a
shack in a suburb, a weed among roses.
But you aren’t alone! As cliché as it sounds, there is Jesus! Imagine
how He felt on Earth, when it seemed like He was the only one at the
time who actually understood His true purpose, when He was the only
person to walk blameless. He feels your pain. He knows what it’s like
to be an outcast.
A great passage to look at is Mark 3:31-35 which states ‘‘Then His
mother and His brothers came, and standing outside, they sent word to
Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him and told Him, “Look,
Your mother, Your brothers, and Your sisters are outside asking for
You.” He replied with “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking
about at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said “Here
are My mother and My brothers! Whoever does the will of God is My
brother and sister and mother.”’ (HCSB version)
See, there’s a reason why we call ourselves brothers and sisters in
Christ! Christianity is the only faith I know of where the Supreme
Being loves people so much He calls us family. With family being such
an important aspect in the ancient Middle East, the fact that He turned
down His “blood” family to His spiritual family demonstrates how He
will disregard ancient, earthly customs to express His higher calling:
His devotion to us. He left the people with which He was supposed to
identify, risking the chance of being on His own, and instead sought
out a different, more meaningful family.
Not only do we have Jesus, however, but we have each other as well.
Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and
mother,” indicating that we are all connected through Christ. Even
though we have so many differences, we can rely on the similarity of
whom we put our trust. You have a family.
One aspect of Christianity that has taken me years to understand is
that the faith is not solitary, but communal. It requires working and
being with other people, which sounds awful to those fellow Christians
like me who are naturally introverted and have hated group activities
and group projects. But you can’t have a “body” of Christ if there’s
only a hand or a foot, it requires many parts to create a whole.
This community of people can show you how the entire group is
different, with each person having a unique set of gifts given by God
Himself. They understand the basic struggles of being a Christian in
contemporary life. Some may not know your exact struggles, and they
might even offend you in their failed attempt at trying to relate to
you, but you can be darn sure they are genuinely concerned and want to
understand. Why? Because they care and because they want to be able to
help you. You are their family!
Looking back, you are already an amazing creation. Your intricate
design and jagged edges make you a beautiful picture. However, you are
also a puzzle piece with the capability of creating a marvelous
masterpiece when fitted with other pieces! Without you, the puzzle is
incomplete! You’re irreplaceable.
Looking at one of the most famous passages of Scripture, Matthew
28:16-20 is called “The Great Commission.” However, this command is not
given to one disciple or one relative, but is said to the eleven
disciples, a group of people which represented the first Christians.
Our mission is to work together, to be together, for the good of all
creation and for the glory of God.
As a result, being a Christian is not just being able to have a
fantastic relationship with our Lord, but also giving us the chance to
be a part of something bigger than ourselves. The chance to touch all
nations, to connect with all people, the chance for something greater.
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