God created two kinds of people: right-brained and left-brained. Actually, God created many types of people, but the job of a writer is immensely easier if the contrasts are limited to two. Obviously there are short and tall people; thin people and big-boned people; people who waste precious time and money on hair care and those who’s hair dries before they exit the shower; and, people come in various colors and accents and drive on different sides of the road. In reality we are a multi and varied lot. Scripture points this out in several places, none more vivid than when addressing the various spiritual gifts provided to people. Have you noticed, however, how down right churchy the spiritual gifts sound? You got your preachers, your teachers, your music people; you got your mercy-sharing people and you got your witnessers; you got your prophets and you got your behind-the-scenes-people that take up the offering, hand out the juice and them tiny crackers that taste like the cook left something out, and the people who love to put chairs out. Have you ever wondered why something like algebra or fixing cars or pharmacy isn’t considered spiritual gifts? I have.
In 7th grade, I decided I was going to be a lawyer and I almost made it (a completely different article). I majored in Criminal Justice and took one law school course while still in college (a fluke). I loved the way attorneys represented people by using oratorical skills and mastery of the law (gleaned from a childhood of watching television). I also checked and found that few, if any, math skills were necessary. I was terrible in all things math. I am right-brained and my people tend to trip all over rhythmic geometry and free style ciphering. If I could become a successful lawyer and not have to take math in the process I would be happier than Perry Mason at the bar association buffet. Alas, as they say, I didn’t fulfill my childhood dream of math-free law school; nor did I enter a field devoid of math as I was forced to take several statistics classes. Things worked out OK though because lawyers are required to understand the tax code and how to bill in increments of minutes, both of which require a skill in math or, in hiring gifted assistants.
I’ve also decided that all vocations can be extensions of spiritual gifts and God’s call for everyone to serve the Kingdom. It’s a fallacy to believe only the professional clergy are supposed to serve God as a vocation. If you’re a lawyer, serve God as a lawyer. If you’re a medical professional, serve God through medicine. If you’re a math teacher, serve God by whatever it is you do, but be kind and graceful to all those odd, right-brained, math-impaired budding preachers and attorneys you run across. Believe it or not, they do come in handy now and again. And, no matter what you do as a vocation…do it for God. You are a spiritual gift!
Michael McCullar
No comments:
Post a Comment