Same God, Different Paths
As a kid, my parents had a simple rule for my two siblings and I: you don’t all have to have the same things. Some parents try to establish total equality for their kids by ensuring that whatever opportunities one child has, the others get as well. I know this works well for some families and has its merits, but I’m glad I was raised differently for a few reasons. First, growing up in this state of “inequality” taught us to be happy for the opportunities the others had, not begrudging them good fortune or a special treat. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it allowed each of us to be our individual selves, to take the direction we chose and know we’d have support in it. As a result, we siblings are inseparable yet unique and have each followed our own varied paths.
This rule not only makes for good parenting, but it also mirrors a principle which weaves its thread through almost every story in scripture, one which Paul summarizes in 1 Corinthians 12:6, “God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” When writing this letter to the Corinthians, Paul sought to reach a church fractured into hostile groups, each claiming to follow the superior leader, have the better faith, and be the only true Christians. The situation required tact and careful, thorough communication because Paul had to show the fragile new believers the importance of unity while still encouraging the expression of their unique and God-given gifts. The Spirit-led letter that he wrote to address this situation, especially chapters 12 and 13, contains an exciting and beautiful revelation about the character of God and our nature as Christians.
“God works in different ways.”
It’s a simple statement, but one which is behind almost every decision I made about the unique journeys of each of my characters in Gift of the Tiding Bearer. At the story’s conclusion, the Giver explains how Mavis, Doran, and Errol each have a “heart’s desire” which initially piqued their interest in the Priceless Treasure and directed Dara to take a unique approach in speaking to each of them. It also plays a part in determining which gift Dara gives them and which opportunities tempt them most.
But even though the Giver is the source of their differences and customizes His message for each of them in ways they will understand, Dara cautions them to stay together, and their unity proves indispensable at the final showdown with Anwir. This is because, as Paul hoped to teach the Corinthians, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts,” but they are “given to each of us so we can help each other” (1 Corinthians 1:4, 7). Mavis, Doran, and Errol’s gifts, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the ways these balance each other, showcase the importance of variety in God’s church.
The value of unified diversity is something nature illustrates as well. The many biomes that make up earth’s beautiful colors and textures contain millions of plants and animals, each of whose unique characteristics make life possible for all the others. This arrangement teaches us that God is not only creative, but selfless and wishes us to learn lessons of interdependence, trust, and generosity. This is part of the reason the church is endowed with apostles, prophets, teachers, healers, helpers, leaders, and linguists, to name a few (1 Corinthians 12:28). As Paul so eloquently illustrates by example of the human body and its many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-26), when talent and skill are distributed among many, we are provided more opportunities to love and serve each other as Jesus loves and serves us.
As with every principle of scripture, this one does more than just instruct us about a better way to live, it also tells us something precious about the character of God and His love. True love not only allows a person to be themselves, but nurtures and encourages the highest and noblest things about that self. It is the privilege and blessing of every believer to be led by God on a unique, personal journey. Jesus Christ is the only Door to salvation, but the path that leads us there is individualized and filled with special, deeply personal revelations of God’s kindness and care.
Jesus illustrated this when he told the parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Boy (prodigal son). The sheep was lost, and he knew it, but he was unable to return on his own, so the Shepherd went after him and brought him back. The coin didn’t even know it was lost, but its owner searched for it thoroughly until she was able to hold it close once more, and the prodigal son ran away from his loving father and later came home on his own where he was welcomed with open arms and a heart full of forgiveness. Each of these lost ones ended up in the same place: safe and loved by the one who owned them, but they were brought there in different ways, ways that met their needs as individuals.
The same is true of three other lost souls—Doran, Mavis, and Errol. They all come from very different backgrounds, bear different burdens, and face different temptations, but they must all take the same Path and they all learn to trust the same God. Doran seeks the Priceless Treasure as an escape to a new life, Mavis to prove a point to her parents, and Errol as a way to pass time until he figures out how to live as a fugitive. None of them saw the full impact of what they were pursuing when they set out after it, but they came to treasure it above all else. Although they made it to the mountains, there is still a lot for them to learn about the Giver, His gifts, and their role as His tiding bearers. One thing is for sure: their journeys will continue to be personal and special, led by the One who knows their heart’s deepest cries and satisfies them.