God Has Children of Many Types

It was nobody's fault but my own. Vehicle Registration Renewal notices (the reminder that your auto license plates are about expire) arrived several weeks ago. It happens every year on your birthday.

My wife usually takes care of this, but I had not gotten my car's emission test completed before she went out of town last week. So it became my task to get our tags and the deadline is today.

My schedule was pretty full last week, so I waited until Friday afternoon to take my car for the emission test. Then I went to the tag office just a couple of miles away.

I presented my driver's license as identification when I purchased my new license plates. The clerk looked at it and said, "Your license is about to expire." I had not realized that it had been four years since my last driver's license and Monday (today) was the deadline to renew (wish they sent notices for that, too).

After leaving the tag office I made my way to the closest office of the Department of Driver Services (DDS). I soon discovered that I was not the only one seeking this service. There were about 300 people waiting for their number to be called.

After an hour and a half I decided to leave and wait until Monday. The crowd would probably be smaller. I did not know until later that all of the DDS offices were closed on Monday. No problem. I would be there when the office opened at 7:30 the next morning.

I was up bright and early Saturday morning and arrived at the DDS at 7:15. It was a bit surprising that over 100 people were there ahead of me.

I waited in line for the office to open and then waited longer to sign in and get my number. Then I waited longer to be called to renew my license. While I waited I became keenly aware of the diversity of the population. There were people of many ages, sizes, shapes, colors, and languages.

During the 2 ½ hour wait I was reminded that God has children of many types. We don't all look alike. We don't all speak the same language. Our customs and traditions vary. Isn't it wonderful?

As I surveyed the room it became apparent that in spite of our differences, everyone in that room was there for the same purpose. Our circumstances might have been different, but we all had the same need - a driver's license.

I sometimes forget that people are more alike than different. Everyone has the same basic desires and needs. And I think most people have similar goals in life.

This coming Sunday is World Communion Sunday. Since 1940 World-wide Communion Sunday has been celebrated on the first Sunday of October as a global, interdenominational event.

Beginning in the Far East on October 3 and as the sun rises across the globe, United Methodists and other Christians will celebrate The Lord's Supper affirming that there is one Table set for us all because there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all" (Eph. 4:5-6). The style of worship will differ and the liturgy will not all be the same. But in unity we will acknowledge that "Changing the World, One Life at a Time" is more than the theme of the day. It is the goal that all Christians share.

Jamie Jenkins

[Taken with permission from "Monday Morning in North Georgia," Sept. 20, 2010. North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.]