I bit the side of a nail the other day. A “sticky out bit”. Chewed it right off. For a week that bit of my body throbbed. I was aware of that bit every day for a week. That bit which serves no purpose. It is a kind of “finger nail fixing”. A window frame around the nail itself. In the Big Picture of creation and the miracle of life – that “bit” wouldn’t get on anyone’s wish list.

Which bit of the body do you wish to be?
The brains
Sorry – that is already taken.
The heart.
Sorry ..
That’s already taken. The legs then – there are two …
(shakes head sadly)
The fingers – there are te ..
(shakes head again)
Well here we go – just because no one else will have: the bum, the anus, the bottom, the arse!
Sorry – that went weeks ago!
That went …
(scans the small print) We do have a few bits left … not sure what most of them are – or what they are for – or why they are on this list. But you know what they say: If you’re on the list – you’re in!

The Body of Christ always seems to be discussed as “it doesn’t matter – we are all equal.” The head does not rule the body, the body does not rule the head.  I find that the “it doesn’t matter” message is usually heard from those who see themselves as “the head”.

I am here to tell you that bits I never even noticed in my body have their five minutes of fame (and quite often much – MUCH- longer)!

That finger nail frame sticky-out bit (or the bit that used to – and then throbbed for a week when it did not). The rough patch just under the ball of my foot (the bit that scratches the sheets every night).  The bit of something at the top of my nose that blocks each night (the bit of which the medical profession can find no abnormality to fix).  I have loads of little bits I never knew were there and which focus my attention nowadays.   My Body of Christ is not ruled by one part.   My Body of Christ is guided to move this way or that – as any numbers of “bits” come to light and change they way I live.  Because as I have grown older I have learned to listen more.

I have a sticky-out bit? Best leave it alone and see what happens. I have a scratchy bit on my foot at night? Best get the foot cream out and use it. I get blocked up? Unless something pops up as the answer, learn to minimise – to live in comfort – together.

And the point of all this musing?

Musing brought to life by Esther’s Petition: Bette Cox – and a post entitled: Introduction to Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We talk of the differentiation of the Body of Christ … We talk of the usefulness of that differentiation … We talk about the work that unified body can do … The power that body has when it is in harmony … We talk about this “body” as though it were a dysfunctional lump on a slab – sliced and diced and twitched back to life by our own efforts – a squirt of electricity revival there – a zap of power juice programme here.  Yet …

I Am.

When I said “Yes please, my Lord and Saviour” I became I Am – every cell and blood vessel – every breath and heartbeat – every thought and dream (if I allow).

I am I Am.

The Body of Christ is just that – a whole living thing – not the “Million Dollar (wo)Man-Church” – cobbled together with especially designed bits for here – that don’t fit with especially designed bits for over there.  The body is a body.  No more and no less.  And the more we slice and dice the various limbs and organs – the less we are a body – and the more we become just a bucket-full of slops.

Which brings me to another post. One by realchange4u: Tom Caton – and a post entitled: Steadfast & Christlike Being Perfected –  “Can you just imagine what it is like to be filled with the spirit of God to a point that he is the one doing and saying all things in our daily walk. I don’t know about you but that leaves this old man breathless … News flash his kingdom has already come and is alive and well in you if you if are saved and call yourself a christian.”

I am I Am.

How about you?