Living with Our Glimpses

It was Crazy Sock day at school yesterday, a celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. My boy’s kinder class celebrated their friend and all the other friends around the globe who are extra amazing with their extra chromosome.

Watching him walk out the door with tiny capes fluttering on the back of his Batman socks was LIFE.

I mean, who doesn’t love a good sock cape?

More than that, though, was the knowledge that those socks were walking into a school that is celebrating people. And I will always get on board with that.

• • •

I’ve been to several events recently, speaking on the topic of identity and, consequently, comparing ourselves to others. It’s ironic, because I don’t usually choose the topic; it’s often chosen for me. So either the whole country is in an identity crisis (which, yes) or God is really hammering this topic home in my own heart (also yes).

It’s just so easy to lose sight of who we are in a world telling us constantly and explicitly who we should be.

Where we get push notifications to our phones that are constantly reminding us what she is doing over there. Where ads are targeted directly at us, custom-tailored to our specific Google searches.

When we’re wobbly on who we are, we often look left and right first to figure it out. We compare and contrast, tear others down to build ourselves up.

It’s funny, because our culture claims to celebrate diversity – you be you! – yet jumps at the first chance to point out how you being you infringes on them being them.

We don’t do diversity well.

• • •

In the car this past week, my boys and I started talking about heaven.

At least once a year, I wonder if we’ve oversold heaven. Because at least once a year, one of my children packs a suitcase and demands to be driven (or rocket-shipped) straight to heaven to see God.

Last week, my 4 year old was adamant. “But I want to see God right NOW! WHY CAN’T WE SEE HIM?!”

He was confused and frustrated.

So we started talking about all the ways we can see him.

“What are some ways you see God on earth?” I asked.

“In the trees!” said one.

“By all the flowers he made!” said another.

“Through people!” said the third.

Such good answers.

The last, though. That’s where God has been zeroing in with me in recent months.

So my boys and I talked a lot about identity and what makes someone unique.

For instance, not only does each person have different passions, we also each have different personalities. So even if we share the same passion, our personalities might walk that passion out differently.

You add to that all the little characteristics and quirks and traits crafted into each of us, and it doesn’t take long to see what a gift we’ve been given in diversity.

God is creative. And he’s generous. And in his creative generosity, he gifted each of us a different part of himself to showcase to others. He gave each of us a different aspect of who he is.

We are made in his image.

And when we view others (and ourselves) with that truth, we get to experience the vastness of God. Every trait, every personality, every passion is another peek into who God is.

“Wow, she’s stunning. I can’t even imagine how beautiful God is, but it’s awesome to see a glimpse of that through her.”

“He is the funniest person I’ve ever met. God must be hysterical.”

“Look how organized God is. You can totally see that through her skills.”

And when you combine alllll his masterpieces together? When you look around a room full of people made in his image? Well, then you begin to get an inkling of the depth and grandness of his character.

We see that God is kind, that he is patient, that he is athletic, that he is an artist. That he is a scientist and a teacher and a chef and a warrior. That he loves quiet serenity and colorful noise.

He is all of those things, and he has gifted those traits to us.

• • •

Growing up, our vacations were less Disney World, more Toadstool Geologic Park. We didn’t have family that lived near us, so our “vacations” were an effort to make the most of road trips to visit grandparents. (It’s unfortunate that Disney wasn’t located in the middle of Nebraska.)

At many of the random truck stops and small general stores we’d stop at along the way, there would be a section by the cash register full of travel fun (!) items. One item I always looked for were the “surprise grab bags”. Unmarked brown paper bags – full of an unknown assortment of toys and candy – for the small gamble of $1.

I always risked it, and was nearly always disappointed once I looked inside. They usually had the offbrand, bad candy (hello, Flavored Fruit Chews) and random toys that were cheap and broke quickly.

The older I get, the more I realize how many people view themselves as truck stop grab bags. A random assortment of traits and characteristics – usually the bad, off-brand ones – with a mismatched personality sprinkled in.

They dress up their brown-paper-bag outsides (I’m a SURPRISE! I’m exciting! You should want me!), yet live in fear someone taking a good look at their disappointing insides.

What. a. tragedy.

Lies from the pit of hell, that’s what those are.

Because

each person is crafted personally and perfectly and intentionally,

each person is made with purpose and design, and

each person is carrying a unique trait of God in them.

And if those things are true, then the only disappointment is when you don’t live confidently in who God made you to be, using the gifts he gave you to share with others.

The only let down is when you hide away and rob others of the chance to see the special part of God that you carry.

• • •

So, yes, boys.

We do see God in people. We absolutely see God in people.

We also see God in ourselves.

Whether you are an Extra Chromie Homie, an ivy league scholar, a quiet introvert, a loud oversharer, a person with negative melanin or a person with ALL the melanin – whoever you are, you are celebrated.

You have to be you, because you are the only you God gave us.