The Benefits of Being Uniquely Different (8/27/2023)

As a kid growing up in a large family with six kids, we shared almost everything. My older sister and I shared a room, a double bed, a bathroom, a car ride to school, and the list goes on. Not that I have anything against sharing, but every once in a while, a girl wants something of her own. Hand-me-downs were a staple in our house. But then, as I grew, it became abundantly clear to my parents that I couldn’t wear my sister’s previous wardrobe. I was different.

My older sister was svelte; I was stocky. Her feet were narrow; mine were wide. And so, this week every year, the week before school started, I got to go look for shoes that were mine from the very first day. I guess you could say that the LORD did me a favor early on by making it abundantly clear that there were blessings in being different even if others thought it was problematic.

But then with age, I learned that “different” wasn’t what mattered, being comfortable with myself was what was important. As I stood in line with my sisters and brothers, we shared things, but we were each unique. We were united, especially when searching for hidden Christmas presents, though diverse. And if I may say so myself, when challenged, we were a formidable crew.

I tried to pass this important discovery on to my children; I tried to teach them that each of them was unique, and their job wasn’t to “fit in” but rather to perfect what was uniquely them in such a way that though diverse they were capable of loving unity. Of all the things I have tried to do in my life, that is one of the things I am most grateful for. They learned the secret and to this day they love sharing time with one another.

Each of us on our individual journey will bring our unique gifts and challenges to the journey with us. We don’t all have to be the same; in fact, for us all to seek to be the same would be a sin against our creator who fashioned us from our beginnings to be unique, diverse, yet united. What unites us never has been that we are the same; what unites us is that our purpose is the same – to love the LORD with our whole being and to love one another as the LORD loves us.

Along the way, we will journey with others who are not like us. Through the power of the Spirit, let us see them not as negatively “different” but as positively “unique” as the LORD created them. Let us seek to recognize their contributions to our diversity which is another way of saying wealth of perspectives. What matters is not how we look, not how we vote, not which hand we write with nor which side of our brain is dominant. What matters is that we are daughters and sons of the one LORD, brothers of the one Savior and Son of God, temples of the one Spirit. What matters is that we are the mosaic of humanity the LORD created, and we share a purpose. We are all seeking to know, to love and serve our one LORD and to build the Kingdom here on earth.

There are benefits in being unique that go beyond getting your own shoes before school starts. There are benefits the LORD desires we understand and live. Though diverse, we are called to be united. May we recognize that sacred desire and cooperate with the gifts and graces given us to live into who we are created to be.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.