Dandruff appears on dark clothes as flakes.

Flakes of bread and cereal are crumbs. Old paint causes flakes to fall from walls. To describe a person as a flake is not a compliment.

It is difficult to attach positive or picturesque thoughts to the word flake.

Add ‘snow’ and the imagery changes.

Floating snowflakes viewed from a warm house and a large window add joy to the soul.

Children use snowflakes to make snowmen draped with a scarf and proudly displaying carrot noses, cucumber eyes, and an orange wedge mouth. A special hat, stones for buttons and sticks for arms finish the masterpiece created by the use of snowflakes.

Then, there is Christmas.  A white Christmas of falling snowflakes and evening sleigh rides—although I never met anyone who went on a sleigh ride other than Santa Claus.

My favorite image of snowflakes reminds me of church and God’s creation.

I remember the first time in Science class when I saw magnified snowflakes. I was amazed to learn of the unique form of each one. That is not bad imagery to apply to church.

Church members are as varied as snowflakes. (Some may even be flakes, but God’s grace is doing its redeeming work.)

I was deep into the years of my own life when I submitted to personality assessment and received my first understanding of my wiring.

The assessment pegged me.  Wired like an engineer, I am quiet, practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, logical, orderly, move toward a goal ignoring distractions, loyal, skeptical, and have high standards of competence and performance, not only for me, but also for you.

Sitting across the congregation from me is someone I can’t seem to understand. To start with, she is female. Quiet could never describe her. She is outspoken, bored by routine and changes her interest almost as quickly as she speaks. She must have immediate results, and cannot tolerate theories or conceptual explanations. Everything is fun as long as it’s done in the company of others.

Talk about different snowflakes.

How can we possibly advance the cause of Jesus together in the same church? She even likes music and art.

There is no way we can perform the same function in the Body of Christ. We don’t look at the world the same way. She is a soprano, and I sing bass.

I think about the huge amount of conflict rooted in personality differences. In reality, few churches ever divide over doctrine. They divide because basses and sopranos cannot seem to see the world or the church from the same vantage point.

It seems to me church would be more effective—not to mention more pleasant—and a greater dose of leaven would enter the world if every Christian could see himself and others as beautifully diverse as snowflakes.

Together we could build a snowman that turns heads. The embroidery around the colorful band of his cap would read, WITNESS.

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells on Cross-Church.