So, here's the thing: maybe particularization isn't always positive. The gift isn't in particularization, but rather, in affirmative particularization.
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I have a confession to make: I'm pretty thin skinned. And some would argue that I'm pretty pale, too. Since we're talking dermis.
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I graduated from college with a double major in Philosophy (emphasis was in history) and in Theology (sort of an add-on my senior year). The year was 1999, the economy was robust and gas was right around $1 per gallon. Diploma in hand and armed with a stout reformed protestant world-view I was ready to conquer and redeem. I didn't know what, but I was going to conquer and redeem---something. Well, despite the booming market, Wal*Mart was good to go for philosophers and theologians, and having very few remaining marketable skills, I was abandoned to the factory workforce. Strangely the HR person didn't even need to verify my educational pedigree. I had my diploma in my folder and everything. Well, actually not the diploma itself, but I did have a nice black bi-fold holder all ready to go with the college's crest, or seal, or whatever it's called.
So I made "fractional horsepower electric motors" for 6 hot Iowa weeks. And then I stopped. My metabolism was making steps in minimizing my carbon footprint, and I saved money by eating (...nothing...) and drinking lots of kool-aid until I could find something (anything) else to sustain myself with. I answered a job for a cabinet builder, no experience required. Sounded good. So me and my diploma folder got us a job sanding stuff, and then spraying a noxious film over it to preserve for infinity.
I suppose by now, you're wondering what in the world my immediate job history has to do with affirmative particularization. And I just want you to know that I haven't lost sight of that. So bear with me. It's been over 12 years since I worked in that shop. 5 years ago I had a dream that I met the owner at some kind of trade-show, and I just went off on him. Seriously. This guy made me feel like a worm. And I don't think he'd be able to sleep at night if he understood how often he did that to people. Because he's the sweetest, gentlest guy (his friends all tell me).
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Particularization happens. Sounds like a good bumpersticker. Because of the great darkness that sin has deformed our hearts into, when I ignore somebody, when I make flippant remarks, when I don't look them in the eye at the counter-whatever-that is the mark I leave on them. Or they leave on me.
Now, in all fairness to the human capacity for relationships-we cannot dote on every person we meet. I certainly know that. I can barely tolerate and maintain the few relationships I have. And it's God's grace that I have those to begin with. Some of us get a huge kick out of meeting people and going to parties and crazy huge clubs. Not me. I love sitting at home, drinking beer with a couple friends on the porch. BUT, I also know that living sacrificially will hurt a little bit for a little while. So I try to push myself to have and show compassion for people as I bump into them. I didn't say I liked it. I haven't said I do it well. But I'm young yet. And I've got room for growth.
I guess Andy is a great way for me to be reminded of Jesus' virtue of affirmative particularization. Somehow, Jesus manages to show love for people while teaching them, rebuking them, trying like crazy to get away from them so that he can get some time to himself...while living with 12 red-necked, social-reject tradesmen, con-men, and their older and younger brothers, who smell like fish on a perpetual camping trip that lasted 3 years. Crazy.
Well, wish me luck. At least I don't smell like fish. Today.
Good luck. Build a better future.
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