Fully Strange (fb)

A quick argument for fighting to be fully human, fully strange…it goes like this. 

People generally fit into five broad categories as humans made in the image of God, experiencing a world in transition, gravitating towards specific gifts and skills and callings.

Starters:   Starters are the restless and or focused pioneers.  They have to take new ground, live in the future, can see over the next hill and can’t wait to get there.

Observers:  Observers are constantly listening to their inner voice, to the plurality of voices.  They are less worried about understanding than they are about seeing.  They help others hear and see what those others might otherwise rush by.

Promoters:  Promoters are the true believers, the persuaders, the cheerleaders.  They can’t help but Tell what they know.  They use their enthusiasm to shout from the rooftops the thing that they are convinced would make everyone else as fulfilled, excited and amazed as they are – if only they knew.

Explainers:  Explainers want to understand and to help others understand.  And the more they understand the more they want others to understand what they understand.  They are energized by learning and, in maturity are able to turn the complex into the simple.

Nurturers:  Nurturers want everyone to Feel loved, healthy, and understood.  They desire protection and security.  Nurturers prefer the known, the tried and true, the safe.

As humans we are caught in a conundrum.   We love homogeneity and find comfort and joy in hanging around people like us.  But being fully human, according to the bible (esp Ephesians 4), requires that we enter into a community that intentionally embraces a “unity through diversity.”  So to be fully human I am compelled to intentionally seek community that is diverse and challenges my “category.”  That requires that I am intentional about being around people that represent each category and that I genuinely seek to understand their view of the world. 

So how am I embracing the Starter lifestyle, the Nurturer lifestyle?  Where do I need to challenge myself to pursue Explainers?  Am I hearing the voices of the Observers?  It is the strange exception of a person that flows freely through these five worlds yet remains focused on fully realizing their own gifts and callings.  I want to be that strange.