We Are All Vital to the Body of Christ
The sunlight filtered through the trees, creating a kaleidoscope of shadows on the trail. Our footsteps were hushed on the dirt path, and the only other sounds carried on the breeze were the songs of both bird and man. I didn’t understand the words of either, but I wanted to hear more of both.
As we drew closer to the music, other sounds began to stand out. We heard the giggles of children, the rhythm of tools, and the crackle of a cooking fire. The trail eventually delivered us from the forest and into what felt like a time portal. We stepped into the clearing and found ourselves in a seventeenth-century Wampanoag village.
This is the magic of Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts. While on various assignments around the country as a travel nurse family, I’ve tried to incorporate homeschooling lessons based on our current area. None were as impactful as this visit. When a visitor steps through the gates, they step into the past. You can see it, taste it, smell it, and talk with those living it. The goal of this living history center is to “illuminate the past and inspire the future.”
The staff who welcomed us to the riverside Wampanoag village were not role-players. They were all members of local native nations and very graciously shared their heritage with the visitors. We learned all about the traditions, customs, and everyday life of the people who had lived in this region for thousands of years.
As we continued down the path, we found ourselves in the seventeenth-century English village built along Plymouth Harbor. Painstakingly recreated homes and gardens line the village road. The people we found bustling around the village have adopted the names, histories, and viewpoints of actual Plymouth residents. Visitors can observe, participate in chores or weapons training, and ask questions. It’s truly the most immersive living history we’ve ever experienced.
What left the biggest impression on me in both the Wampanoag village and the English village was the sense of teamwork. In each community, residents had a role to play. When each person contributed, the communities ran smoothly. If one or two residents decided not to participate, things fell apart. Each group was stronger, healthier, and more cohesive when the members worked together.
It reminded me of the church. Not just the people sharing a pew with me, but the body of Christ. This community of believers, both at the local and global levels, has been designed to function at its best when we are each contributing in our own special ways. God has gifted every one of us with certain strengths and talents. Mine will not look the same as yours. Yours will not look the same as your friend’s or your neighbor’s or your mentor’s.
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Rom. 12:4-5 ESV)
We may not recognize what our gifts and talents could be or how our contributions will make a difference. Because my gifts do not require me to be in the spotlight, I’ve spent many angst-filled moments wondering what my role is and how it could possibly be meaningful. Especially during this season of life that has me mostly tied to schooling, cooking, or washing, it can feel like I have nothing to offer the church.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel small and insignificant when we consider our role in the global community of believers. But we have been designed with a purpose and a role in his body, and we can rest assured that God is working all things together behind the scenes. Like a tapestry, sometimes we can only see the tangled mess on the backside and not understand how our one or two threads could make such a difference in the artistry until we turn the fabric over. One gift or talent is not better or more needed than another. Each one is precious and vital to the body of believers in a unique way.
Every now and then, we’re allowed a glimpse of how a seemingly insignificant offering can change lives for the better. More often, we may never know the full details while living this side of heaven. I’ve finally learned that it’s not my job to understand how God works all things together. While we may bring vastly different offerings to the table, we each have essentially the same job—to faithfully continue to show up with our humble offerings and believe he will use us just as he planned from the dawn of creation.
What a blessing to be a part of his community—a body of believers—confident that he has called each one of us to a unique purpose that he has designed us to fulfill for the benefit of his kingdom. May the Lord continue to help us to use our gifts and talents for his glory and the benefit of our communities.
is a part-time writer and full-time wanderer. She is married to a travel nurse and homeschools her three kids on the road. She’s basically flying by the seat of her pants thirteen weeks at a time. You never know where you might cross paths with her, but you can bet she’ll be singing car karaoke and documenting all her shenanigans on Instagram at @thisonetinylife.
Photograph © Ilse Orsel used with permission
