New Kid on the Block - Week 2 - Originality is Overrated
New Kid on the Block is the journal of Ryan Schnurr, NeighborLink storytelling intern. He’s blogging his experience during his time with us this summer.
ORIGINALITY IS OVERRATED, AUTHENTICITY IS INVALUABLE (I STOLE THIS TITLE)
Andrew and I spoke today about duplication. He told me how often times people think that they need to reinvent the wheel, when in reality they just need to pick it up and stick it on their car (this is a paraphrase of course, Andrew’s metaphors are much better). The wheel is fine, but we get so enthusiastic about creating something that is good that we ignore the one that’s already there. This enthusiasm is great, but the problem is that we spend so much time and resources on the front end of development when it comes to good things, that we have less to invest in the implementation of them.
So it is, I think, with service.
I shot a video with Joe Johns of Fellowship Missionary Church this week. He said while we were shooting that God isn’t waiting for us to make something happen, all he needs is for us to join him in what he’s already doing. It occurs to me (it probably occurred to everybody else a long time ago) that this would help reconcile some of the division that happens in our lives and in the church. We don’t always need to bring something new to the table or compete to find innovative ways to serve. The old channels are fine; we just need to use them.
I want to innovate. I want to do something new and be praised for it. I want to revolutionize good things like service and justice and write a book about it that I can sell at Barnes and Noble for $19.99 plus tax (The Kindle Nook version is only $5.99, for those of you who are into e-reading). But Jesus already did this. If I’m trying to revolutionize these things, I’m trying to reinvent his wheel. There’s nothing wrong with books and seminars and innovation, but my revolutionary actions (and the point of my hypothetical book) should be to become a part of what he’s already doing, or I’m just being divisive.
I am divisive. But I want to change.
Let’s join together with what Christ has done, is doing, and will continue to do.
Ryan
