This is all about you (and me, too).
If it reminds you of something very familiar, it should. After all, we’ve always said that “clothes don’t make the man” (or woman)—although we usually never stop trying.
Lots of people use special dress or uniforms; for instance: soldiers, sailors, kings, queens, priests, nuns, judges, doctors, nurses, etcetera.
Just because someone looks good doesn’t mean that he or she is good. And, just because two people look the same—either because of their bodies or because of their clothing—it doesn’t mean they are the same. Similar they may be, but exactly the same, no.
Even “identical” twins are not 100% identical—and that applies to all living beings no matter how they’re related or dressed or talk or seem.
If you’ve ever seen a military dress parade, you know that it’s very impressive. Everyone is dressed almost the same, everyone walks in step with everyone else—they seem to be one highly trained body—but, even so, nobody is 100% the same as anybody else.
On the battlefield, in a crisis, we don’t want every soldier marching in tune and thinking exactly the same and following the same orders in exactly the same way. Besides obedience, we also want initiative, creativity, courage, and skill.
Do you ever stop to think that you (and I, and each of us) are fundamentally unique? In the entire history of the human race there never has been another person exactly like you, and there never will be one.
You may have ideas or understandings or experiences that no one else has ever had. Similar, yes, but exactly the same, no!
It’s mind-boggling to think of it, but encouraging, too. Without you, the world would be somehow diminished!
If I really appreciate you, I should think “Thanks be to God for you”, and if I really appreciate myself, I should also think “Thanks be to God for me”!
That we are, what we are, why we are, how we are, all of these are reasons for gratitude, thanksgiving, gladness, and joy (when we think of our creator and creation) and, conversely, sometimes reasons for regret, sadness, and shame (when we think of ourselves and our mistakes and failings).
But, for better or for worse, there never was another person just like you and there never will be another person just like you.
There are things that will never be done without your doing them; there are ideas that will never be explored without your exploring them; most of all, there are people that will never be helped without your helping them.
You, and each of us, are very important to the designs of God, to the future of the world we live in together, and to the well-being of others.
All this is not about fame. It has nothing to do with notoriety. You may never be explicitly recognized or appreciated. But, without the contribution you make, the world will never become what it could have, for better or for worse!
It’s okay to wear the same uniform as others—it says that you are committed to the same cause, share the same values, and strive for the same purposes.
It’s okay to march to the same drumbeat as others—so long as you never forget that you have a unique destiny and a unique set of skills and purpose, and that if you are lacking or holding back, there is no one who can ever completely replace you!
3 April 2022