Gumby

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists the defeated, the demoralized-whoever. 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 (The Message)

Even at the ripe old age of thirty, I can still touch my toes. Not just that, I can put my palms flat on the ground in front of me and I don't even have to bend my legs, which is about three feet farther to the floor than my husband can claim. I am no gymnast, but I stretch daily to keep my muscles limber. It's not like that kind of training has saved my life or anything, but when I need to show my five-year-old daughter how to walk like a spider going over backwards, it comes in handy.

A more important skill I am (still) learning is how to be flexible with people. I am not talking about being a doormat while others walk all over me, but being genuinely accommodating. The person who is inflexible can be unbearable, even oppressive, to those around them. Inflexibility is not my natural bent, so I cannot always comprehend those who are uncooperative. I tend toward the doormat side of the spectrum, complete with a big 'Welcome' or some pithy statement printed on my forehead, so I recognize that that can be just as precarious as being rigid. We have in 1 Corinthians the example of Paul, willing to become whatever he needed to be to reach those in need. The NIV says that Paul became a slave, which is a bit different than a servant, which is quoted above. He voluntarily gave up rights, privileges and other liberties to relate to people. He, like Jesus, hung out with sinners, associated with high-minded people, spent time with serious people and consorted with 'scum' simply to give them the benefit of Christ. Paul became like "Gumby," the old stretchy clay-animation cartoon character, with the ability to stretch into what he needed to be to connect with those around him. He did this without sacrificing his own personality, he did this without forfeiting his own morals and he did this without surrendering to anyone but Christ. He did it without having 'welcome' printed across his forehead.

How can I do that, too? First, I must know what my values are and be able to stand firmly in my beliefs, so that when I am with people of lesser moral integrity, I know where to draw the line. I will only drag myself into sin if I don't know where I stand on issues. This gives me backbone and helps me not to be indecisive or wishy-washy. Being flexible means knowing how far to bend, not just simply bowing to whatever. Then, I need to get around others. I cannot reach anyone by refusing to go to places that may have 'sinners.' I also have to step outside my comfort zone and go to places that might stretch my social status a bit upward, which can be just as daunting as going 'down' the social scale. Either way, stretching is important. If I don't watch out, I might surprise myself and make a friend or two. I may even win some to Christ.

God, allow me to stretch for people, to become a servant to all so that I might spread Your love. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher