I saw a quilting frame.

Having grown up prior to malls and Wal-Mart, the Sears catalogue was a big deal—although it was mostly for looking. Other than Levis and suits—even the little tykes of the 1950s owned a suit—clothes were mostly hand-made.

The sewing of shirts for the guys along with dresses, skirts, and blouses for the gals created an abundance of cloth scraps—perfect for quilts.

With the quilting frame taking up most of the room, chairs placed around the frame’s four sides, the female generations started to create. Colorful squares, triangles, rectangles, and circles, stitch by stitch a work of art called a quilt emerged.

As an adult, I remember another scene illustrating beauty created from diversity.

There I was standing on a first century Roman road only 10 miles from the city of Coimbra, Portugal. I could hardly believe it. I was standing on a road that made possible the spread of Christianity throughout first and second century Europe.

The road entered the remains of Conímbriga, one of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal. While in Conímbriga, tracing the outlines of former dwellings, there it was—a beautiful mosaic.

Two thousand years ago, an artisan put together hundreds of colorful stones—small piece by small piece, a striking work of art emerged.

What if church looked more like a patchwork quilt or a mosaic?

We teach our children to sing red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Culture and life have a way of squeezing the diversity out of us. How do we start out pliable like clay and end up rigid as rock?

The Godhead creates. I want to learn to have greater appreciation for diversity.

The world is God’s quilting frame, and God’s floor, both for creating His work of art. Should he decide to stitch in a triangular piece of bright paisley cloth into His church shouldn’t I rejoice rather than judge or complain?

What if I gave the church permission to be diverse and trust it to be faithful to Jesus?

It would be okay if a church held Jesus at its core even though a majority of members enjoyed wiring as artist and musician. Would not their art and music be a calling card to the segment of society with like interest?

Although I lack the artistic gene couldn’t I still salute them as making up the mosaic church?

The Latin Church should not be the “up tight” Anglo church. Their quilt squares look different from mine. I want to give each member the freedom to be Latin.

I have never attended a NASCAR race. Would it be possible for Christians who find commonality in racing to travel from event to event as church reaching out to others in the name of Jesus?

Other than air and food, I can’t think of anything I have in common with NASCAR fans. It would be a long shot for someone like me to serve as their door to Jesus.

Our world is composed of gazillions of subcultures. As followers of Jesus reach out through diversity, I can stand on the sidelines and criticize because they don’t “do church” like I do. Might it be better if I take the log from my own eye and allow Jesus to create a work of art like the diversity of cloth in a patchwork quilt?

At the end of time, Jesus will transform His mosaic into a piece of art for all eternity. When I see His church in its final reality, my wish will most likely resemble Job’s wish. Why didn’t I place my hand over my mouth instead of criticizing God’s actions I didn’t understand?

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells – Cross Church