What Part

When I was a music major in college I was part of the choir. The first year I sang 2nd alto. The next year I switched to 1st alto. In my third year I moved up to 2nd soprano, and by my senior year I was a 1st soprano. I enjoyed every part and enjoyed the variety as my voice teacher taught me to open up and embrace new heights.

During my college years and for many years afterward, I enjoyed being part of music ministry in the church by playing the organ. Then I was a church pianist. Sometimes I was a Sunday School teacher, and later in years a Women’s Bible Study teacher. My main profession was teaching voice. During our traveling years I was vocalist and pianist for our family.

The point is that we sometimes play different parts in the family of God. But each function, whether for a season or a lifetime, is meant to be a means of using our gifts for God’s purposes. In the past, spiritual gift tests were in vogue. I could never quite find my niche. So I finally decided that the lists of “spiritual gifts” in the Bible are not all inclusive. They are examples. And being unique individuals, God equips each of us uniquely.

Perhaps my “gift,” so to speak, is to be a connector. That’s my passion. To connect people to God. To help them relate to Him and see Him in new and different lights. When I was a church organist or pianist, I wanted to help people connect to God in worship. As a Bible teacher, my desire was to help students see God for who He is so that their love and trust would become stronger.

Now, in my senior years, when I don’t have a professional job, or even a volunteer one anymore, what can I do? How can the Lord use me? Well, I guess it’s as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and wife. I’m figuring out how being a connector can fit into those roles. So I write blogs (which my family members read), I write poems to celebrate special occasions and activities. I design gifts (especially at Christmas) that feature encouraging and challenging scripture verses.

Although I may be limited in what I can do, I’m not useless. If we are still alive, God has a purpose for us. What is your part? 1 Peter 4:10 gives us this challenge: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (NIV). J. B. Phillips puts it this way: “Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you, as faithful dispensers of the magnificently varied grace of God.” So again, what part do you play?