This is the weekly email devotional of WhoUWith? Ministries
(2004)
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"We could learn a lot from crayons: some
are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are
different colors but they all have to learn to live in the same box."
-Unknown
For the past 14
years, I have made a career of serving athletes and coaches from all walks of
life. It never ceases to amaze me the dynamics of teambuilding that are
involved in bringing a punch of college athletes together on one team. It is
not just a matter of creating an environment where everyone is colorblind. It
is developing an arena that unites poverty and wealth; personality and stoic
introvertedness, leaders and those they lead.
What is most interesting is the "bubble" that
can be formed by a team. When players on a team truly lay down all their
preconceived, or indoctrinated, opinions of those who are different, all that
is left to look at is each other's heart. Why can't we do this in the world
outside the locker room?
What does
God’s Word say?:
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the
Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you
were called to one hope when you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:2-6
Two are better than one, because
they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help
him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Our world is a lot like the crayons in my house.
I have three girls under the age of nine and crayons are a way of life in our
home. If I ever found crayons placed back in the original box I would probably
pass out from either joy, or sheer shock. In reality, I find crayons in the
oddest places...car floorboard, under couch cushions, dishwasher, laundry
dryer, toilet, etc. When I find these poor lost souls, they are usually alone,
broken, naked and far from their home (the famous Crayola 64 box).
Instead of locking in on those we relate to and
shunning those who make us feel uncomfortable or weird, why can't we reach out
to those who are different? God calls us to be a team, to be a family, to "love
our neighbor as ourselves." I have to go now, I've got some crayons to pick up
and get them back in their box...maybe you do too!
Just a thought!
www.whouwith.com
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