301

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV

Many moons ago I used to teach a class called “301” at our church.  Celebration Community Church was brand new, we attended the very first Sunday it existed.  Our pastor had a heart for reaching “seekers”, people who had no church home.  The “101” class, which was meant for people who wanted to become a member of the church, was actually an 8-hour class in those days. 

The church started out setting up every week at local schools or community buildings.  We eventually endeavored to buy a building.  Pastor Kyle wanted me to help with that effort, but I had only taken half of 101.  Also, I had not taken 201 or 301, which concentrated on finding your ministry.  He may remember coming to my house to teach a marathon version in one day – and it took all day.  The classes were designed to help with spiritual growth and they did provide that opportunity, but I cannot say I retained a lot from 12 hours on a Saturday.  The growth came after that. 

I was thinking about this process today as I was working.  I liked teaching that class.  It centered on finding your SHAPE – Spiritual gift.  Heart.  Ability.  Personality.  Experience.  We spent some time with my sister this past week.  She talked about finding your “fit”, where you feel like your place is – sometimes in obvious areas, sometimes in less well known but needed areas, same concept as SHAPE. 

I sometimes forget to keep my fit in mind.  Everyone wants to matter.  Everyone wants to contribute positively to the people around them.  How did I find myself in a job that puts me on the road trying to find people interested in buying burial insurance?  Prior to taking this job I had been trying to find something different, I just did not know what it would be.  I remember telling my wife I was hoping for a job that did not require a lot of driving.  My dad spent his days alone in a truck.  That did not sound good to me.  So instead of driving a truck, I drive a Subaru - totally different, but I spent 14 hours in the car today. 

But I found my fit.  I like it.  I meet people in every walk of life.  I meet people who have done interesting things.  I meet people who live differently than they thought they would.  I met a man last month who has a worm farm.  It was in a building almost 600 feet long.  I’ve never seen anything like it. 

I hear war stories.  I once met a man who literally glowed in the dark due to exposure to radiation, he turned his lights off to prove it.  He glowed.  I hear about terrible events and loss and I hear about incredible victories.  I hear about kids and I tell people about mine.  I hear about grandkids and now I get to tell them about mine.  I also get to know people who die on a regular basis.  Some of them hurt.  I tell some people about our loss.  I sometimes cry in houses with total strangers.  But I found my fit. 

Sometimes our big plans turn into little baby steps going in a direction we do not recognize. 

Finding where you fit does not mean it will be easy for you.  Struggle still exists.  Sometimes the plans God has for us don’t make sense to the world or to us, just to Him.

Challenge:  Fit where you are or change where you are.  God has a place for you.

Rick Claiborn