At Year 9 they receive a bicycle to show their increase in responsibility and maturity.
And at the end of their childhood, Year 12, they are given their new job that they will have for the rest of their lives. All throughout their childhood the kids are watched and monitored by drones and other adults to see what they are talented at doing and the job that would best suit their personality.
Drone pilot, nurturer, waste management, seamstress, cook, receiver of memories...
At the ceremony, each adolescent is called forward and told their occupation. Fiona was a great nurturer and fit her position well. Asher was a drone pilot. All of the youth had been placed but number 52 was skipped, Jonas. He was not given a position. Baffled, I sat and watched this as it was played out and my mind was racing. I couldn't understand why they couldn't "place" him according to his gifting.
The Head Elder speaks up and tells Jonas that he is the next Receiver of Memories because of his outstanding performance in four areas. He was shocked and a bit hesitant at the same time. He had no idea what this calling entailed because it was so secret.
No, I didn't have a drone following me around like Jonas or Truman (in the Truman Show) but I did have the Holy Spirit walking by my side, going before and behind me. He gave me the desires of my heart. He gifted me with talents to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.
As a member of the body of Christ, I have been "Named" a child of the King and my "gifting" is to use the abilities that he has given to me to serve His Kingdom.
"Now there are a varieties of gifts , but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are various of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
As the body of Christ, we should all work together. We are one body. God has called some of us to be the hands of service. Others, He has called to be the mouth of teaching and preaching. And still others are other vital parts of the Body of Christ.
"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, through they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
As Jonas grew in his understanding of his role as receiver of memories, his bond with the Giver grew and trust was formed between the two. It is the same in our relationship with Christ, as we spend time with Him daily and grow to trust His hand in our lives and ask Him for guidance we will understand our spiritual gifts and what part of the Body of Christ we are created to be. May we never complain about the spiritual gifts that God has given us (1 Corinthians 12:14-31). May we as the Body of Christ suffer with one another in our times of trial and may we rejoice together in times of triumph (1 Corinthians 12:26). Most of all, may we serve Him with all of our hearts in order that the Body of Christ grow in maturity and love and shine the love and light of Christ to a dark and dying world.
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, unified in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."
Philippians 2:1-5
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