Unique

 

There's a saying that goes, "God broke the mould when He made you!" It means that a particular person or thing is special or unique, and that there is nobody else or nothing else quite like them. He is a most remarkable man. They broke the mould when they made him. It could also be derogatory and mean that the person is so awful, stupid, or lazy.

Consider this. There are just over 8 billion people in the world today. Not millions, but billions. That's 8 and nine zeros behind it - 8,000,000,000.

And here's the miracle. No two people are alike. Even twins. Everyone of us is different. We may look the same physically, but inside us, what really makes us tick, our soul, is different from anyone else's.

Now some people do not believe in there being a soul. They don't understand it. They believe we are living creatures and when we die, we die. There's nothing else left. No thereafter. No Heaven or hell or anything like that.

C S Lewis said: You don't have a soul. You are a soul; you have a body.

What he meant is that we are all living souls inhabiting a body. God created us as souls - "In His own image" as a soul - a Spirit. God is a Spirit, so is Jesus and the Holy Spirit of course. 

We are all souls living within a body. And when the body dies the soul lives on for eternity.

And every one of those 8 billion souls is different. God created us this way. Isn't He wonderful?

Let us not waste time and try to be someone else. To copy someone else's style and behaviour. We are all unique. Different. Perfect in our own way. There are no rejects from God's production line.

When I was young in my early twenties working as a manager in a large company; I had people working for me old enough to be my parents. It was a daunting task. Some did not accept me as their boss. Some were better qualified than me in their particular expertise and subject. Why should they work for a young man in charge of a whole section?

I was in charge of a whole unit, and it is understandable that I could not be an expert on each individual aspect of the project. Like computing or electronics. I had to rely on experts in that field. No manager is an expert in everything. But some of them resented this; especially in view of my age.

I tried to be someone else. I copied the style of other older managers and tried to be them. I spoke more slowly, in a softer voice, walked slowly and tried to look learned and pensive. I guess I tried to change my voice too, because someone said to me, "What's the matter with you? Have you got indigestion or trapped wind?"

So I relaxed and became myself once again. I relied on my sense of humour where appropriate. I may have told you this story before, if so, please read the next few lines with your eyes closed to avoid repetition.

We were at a Team Building Conference. I hated those Conferences, and felt they were a waste of time taking me away from my work. 

The guy managing the event had us in small groups and said, "Imagine your SUV broke down in the desert. Do you move away on foot, and if so what three items do you take with you?"

My group decided that they should move away from the vehicle to a safer place, and started suggesting we take water with us, others suggested a torch, salt tablets, various tools, blankets and so on. 

I remained silent wishing I was back in my office finishing an important time-sensitive report. The instructor noticed me and asked, "How about you? What would you take with you from the vehicle if stranded in the desert?"

I just blurted out, "The car door!" He was confused, as well as the rest of the group, and he asked, "Why?"

I said, "Because I can open the window if it gets too hot!"

I survived. That Conference and a career thereafter. The point I'm making is we should be ourselves. Not copy others. We are all different. We all have unique different gifts given us by God when He created us. Let us use them for His glory.

Someone said to me once that I have a unique sense of humour; (whatever that means).

I hope God has a sense of humour. Because if He hasn't I am in very serious trouble!