I enjoy doing jigsaws. It’s something Mr Pamsperambulations can’t quite get his head around, but for me there is the challenge of making order out of chaos, and being able to see tangible results, reasonably quickly. There is nothing more frustrating with jigsaws than getting to the end, and finding there is a piece missing. It ruins the whole.
This is I think something like what Paul is alluding to. There is one faith, one God and Father – and one body of his followers. We are called to work together, to love each other and to make allowances for one another. We are each one of us God’s, loved and accepted by him, and we should love and accept one another.
Of course jigsaws only work because all the pieces are different – some are very odd shapes. If they were all the same, the picture would not hold together, it would slip and slide all over the place and not be a very coherent whole. So it is with Christ’s body. The fact that we are all different is important for the whole picture of the church.
Paul reminds us we’re not all the same – and we are not asked to be: some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors some teachers. Some are pot-washers, painters, prayers, typists. All are needed for the body of Christ to function fully, for stability, growth and health.
We are each called to do our bit. So don’t let your piece be missing – and don’t force out the very odd shaped piece – that may be the key to holding it all together – and is a vital part of the whole picture. The picture of God in our world.
