Vive la Difference

Ever looked at a couple and thought, “How did THEY ever get together?” Tall woman – short man? Talkative husband – quiet wife? Aw! Viva la difference! God’s recipe for unity was never about sameness. Romans 12:4-5 spells it out beautifully:

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body — we all belong to each other.”

It’s the differences — la difference! — that make life and relationships not only interesting but lasting. We’re wired uniquely on purpose and for a purpose. It’s way more exciting that way.

Think about baking a cake. No one’s sneaking spoonfuls of flour and cocoa or sipping vanilla extract straight from the bottle. But when those oddball ingredients are mixed together with a little heat — voilà! Dessert is served.

The same goes for us. Sweet, salty, bold, bitter, and even a little nutty — we’re better when blended together for God’s glory.

Some people shine on center stage — bold and booming with vision and voice. Others are more the behind-the-scene types — steady, faithful, making sure the microphones work.

One can’t do it without the other. We may function differently, but no one’s dispensable. And when we stop competing and start completing each other? That’s when the Church becomes unstoppable.

I love the old Russ Taff song that says:
“You’re my brother, you’re my sister — so take me by the hand — together we will work ‘til He comes — there’s no foe that can defeat us when we’re walking side by side — as long as there is love we will stand!

And it’s true. God didn’t create cookie-cutter Christians. He created a dynamic, diverse, delightfully blended body — meant to reflect His kingdom on earth.

So, here’s the secret ingredient: unity in diversity, seasoned with love. Let’s celebrate each other’s strengths, laugh at our quirks, and carry each other’s burdens. When the world sees that kind of love in action, they’ll want a taste, too.

Viva la difference! Bring on that yummy chocolate cake, please!