UNIQUE

One of a Kind

A few months ago I decided to take a walk in a wooded area not too far from where I live. My intention was to specifically notice things in nature that were unique and perfect in their imperfection. This is one of the photos I took. I was drawn to the shape and color and the fact that it seemed to come out of nowhere all by itself.

It's cool right?

It brings my mind to creation. We know the probability that life just occurred out of thin air by itself is so crazy stupid that you'd have to really dislike God to believe that nonsense. When you consider that everything is so very unique, you must conclude that a powerful intelligent force was behind creation. No two snowflakes are alike. No two mushrooms are identical. No two people are exactly the same. Oh sure we may be similar but we are all unique. Uniqueness is what makes nature scream "GOD CREATED ALL OF THIS!"

My younger sister was friends with a girl who was a triplet. The 3 most joyful girls you would ever want to meet. I can still see their big smiles in my mind's eye. At first meeting you would swear you could never tell them apart, but once you got to know them you realized they weren't carbon copies. Yes, they were very similar and it could fool you for a second or two, but they are still very unique individuals.

The Bible says that Jesus created everything. John 1:2-3 "He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." Now Imagine Jesus in the "design room". Planning out each and every one of us, no two exactly alike. Can you see him with a paint brush? How about with a lump of clay? What is the process to forming so many people? Did he have an excel spreadsheet with rows of names and columns of physical, emotional and psychological attributes? Would he need one?

As an artist sometimes I find it difficult to come up with multiple ideas. I can't even imagine coming up with billions upon billions of humans. I know that there is genetics involved to some degree, but he did have to invent that part of it, too. How does it all work?

Imagine Jesus being so thrilled with each of us. Putting the finishing touches on our freckles or giving this one an overbite and that one crooked teeth, this one curly hair and this one over here straight stringy hair. He is happy with all of his unique creation. So much so that he gave each of us a unique purpose. He not only designed our looks, but our personality, or lack thereof, our intelligence or lack thereof, and has put within us hopes and dreams and abilities that are unique to HIS plan for us.

I remember as a teenager and even a young adult despising the way I look. I'm still not crazy about parts of me, but I am learning that Jesus loves me just how I am. He knows that I am overweight, and have crazy hair. On the other hand, He also knows my heart. He knows what makes me happy, sad, excited, and what drives me every day. Greater even than all that, He knows my purpose.

Imagine Jesus inspiring the psalmist to write the words "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." When you think about it, He is telling us that even though we might not like what He has created, that all he desires from us is praise for who created us to be. It is pretty simple. We don't have to like the way we look, but as long as we are giving Him the glory for designing us, we can be perfect in our imperfection. The more we praise Him the less we worry about those imperfections. Funny how that works!

Psalm 139:13 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb."

2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"