What to do with a toenail

Romans 12:4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

We often struggle with this whole body thing. Intellectually we seem to understand it, but in practice we struggle. It is easy for those of us who are more extrovert to feel like the quiet, behind the scenes type people aren't living up to their calling. After all, imagine the impact we could make if we were all out there "pastoring", "evangelizing"....

We forget that in order for those of us who are "out there", to do our thing, we need those "quiet", behind the scenes guys doing what they are gifted at. Their gifting is not less, it is different.

At The Open Door, most of what we do is carried out by behind the scenes people. The meals are coordinated by Syl. She never says anything, but take her out of the equation and we're in trouble. The same goes for Sean and Jared, who set up, tear down and do sound. It would be easy to say, "why aren't these guys "talking" to everyone". Don't they love people? Yes they do. The fact is they create the freedom for me and others to do what we do best,... "talk".

In order to function as a healthy body, we need all the parts, doing what they were created to do.

1 Corinthians 12:12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 Suppose the whole body were an eye, then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
18 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. 19 What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22 In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

I want to thank behind the scenes people everywhere. You are needed. I also want to apologize for mentioning Syl, Jared and Sean by name, because they are all going to hate me for it. :o) Oh, the opportunities for forgiveness I create...

Peace,

K