The Simple Joy of Design

Doing a “great thing for God” might mean doing the smallest and simplest thing. Maybe even the easiest thing—the thing you just want to do. That simple. It doesn’t have to be a BIG thing in order to be great. The real thing is really the thing. No more. No less. I know that some want to motivate us to reach beyond, to dare to dream big, because THEN it must be God. But what if for most of us it’s easier and simpler than that? On purpose?

God has given you real faith and a real gift to go with it. It’s a package deal. Try to make more of it, and it’s going to be a mess—maybe a big enough mess that a lot of us will be bothered with it, too. Try to make less of it, and we’ll all suffer the absence. Try to make everyone have what you have, and we’ll leave you because you’re not as supernatural as you think. You don’t have the Creator gift. But you do have the expression.

Do you simply “get” people? Do you see past their facade to their inner design, and it’s a beautiful thing? Then tell them why—exactly why—they’re so good and you’re so impressed.

Do you like doing stuff for people? Then have at it, because that’s the gift, and you’ve been given the heart and faith to do it. No fuss. No muss. Brilliant!

Do you like assessing a situation, a need or opportunity, and then offering a sort of prescription as to how to “get there” or fix it? Rock on, man! That’s the thing. Remember to be nice when some of us are slow to get the fix.

Do you somehow see or find that little spot of depression, that little area of doubt that haunts and hinders somebody, and you have just the real and right thing to say? It’s easy? Then that’s what you’ve got! Don’t look for more, don’t apologize, and don’t despair that it’s not enough. That’s God’s design.

Do you like—really like—giving to encourage and take care of needs? Then give that $5. After all, size doesn’t matter...unless it’s supposed to be $5,000. Then keep it real simple and give it. Either.

Do you think or hear of a way that you can get involved in something, and you wind up at the front of that effort? “Oops.” Then give yourself wholeheartedly to it—all the way. Because you fit, we’ll benefit.

Do you bubble up with feelings of kindness and compassion when you see or know of someone who deserves a penalty or punishment? That’s real—go with it. Don’t look for someone else to feel the same way. Go bubble-over on that person, no matter the result, no matter the appearance.

It’s simple and real. Maybe you’ve noticed. It’s supposed to be because it’s by design, and that’s where the joy is.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.