Don’t Box Me In

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This has to be one of the greatest company slogans ever.

The point of it?

You can get insurance online or you can call them and get sqared away by talking to a real person.

Esurance gets it.

They know that not everyone does things the same way,
not everyone wants the same thing,
not everyone fits inside a single system.

I think we forget that.

In church,
in life,
in parenting,
in working,
in eating,
in driving,
in leadership,
in school.

Not everyone likes or needs the same thing.

We often fall into the idea that everyone is like us,
that everyone works like we do.

It’s not true.

Different people are wired different ways,
they have different passions,
different gifts,
different likes.

We can’t put them inside our self assumed circle.

AND…

that’s OK.

We have to let them fly the way their wings take them.
We have to give them that freedom.

Because,

When we allow people to operate from their uniqueness, we’re empowering them to reshape the world.

23 responses to “Don’t Box Me In”

Phil

September 15

God crafted us all to be different with amazing gifts that we should put into practice. The world would be a little boring otherwise! I think its important that we also respect one another differences too.

Thanks for sharing Jon.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Well said, Phil.
  
  Reply
bill (cycleguy)

September 15

Good stuff Jonathan. Good reminder also for leaders and for “followers.” Leaders don’t like to be boxed in. Why do we expect the people to follow lock-stock in line? Maybe they don’t want to be boxed in either. It also works the other way. People stuck in a rut and wanting the pastor/leader to get in line or else. We need to allow for diversity of gifts to be used.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Amen.
  
  Reply
Cycleguy's Spin » Blog Archive TruthTime | Cycleguy's Spin

September 15

[…] https://jonathanpearson.net/2011/09/15/dont-box-me-in/ […]

Reply
Kathy Fannon

September 15

As I read this I thought of a conversation I had with my daughter the other day. What if we were all accountants? Who would tell the people of “Narnia” about Jesus? Who would greet guests and answer phones? Who would work in the nursery? (SO not my calling!) Who would cook Wednesday night community meals? And God bless our custodial crew!

This is why Jesus gives us the Body, we all need each other with our different gifts and talents. We can’t expect somebody else to be or to think like us or things may not get accomplished.

And who would write these amazing blog posts if we were all landscapers?

I also thought of Michael Hyatt’s post from about a year ago in regards to knowing our weaknesses and not trying to strengthen them, but allowing somebody else to do a task who has that as a strength.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Great points, Kathy. Thanks for sharing. Hope you have a great Thursday!
  
  Reply
April

September 15

I really appreciated this post! Will be sharing it!

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Thanks April. Appreciate you sharing it.
  
  Reply
Russell

September 15

So many times we box ourselves in trying to be like others. Why? Either we try to be like others or we try to meet their expectations (our boss, spouse…). Enjoy the season you are in and realize that once in a while we get boxed in to realize that we must find a larger box or cut some hole in that box.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Well said man.
  
  Reply
Eileen

September 15

Nice thoughts. At first, I misread this sentence…”Different people are wired different ways” I thought it said, different people are weird in different ways…I find both to be true…but in a good way. :)

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  haha.. both are totally true! :) Thanks Eileen!
  
  Reply
Jason Vana

September 15

I notice this a lot in my college ministry. Some students encounter God through structure and format, others through a seemingly lack of structure. We have to keep that in mind when trying to help students grow closer to Christ – just because they don’t worship or study or seek God like I do, doesn’t mean they aren’t seeking Him.

Great word, JP!

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  True.
  
  Reply
Zee

September 15

A good friend of mine, a missionary to Ukraine for the last 17 years, has a phrase he tells all who come for a visit to our country.

“It’s different, but it’s okay.”

(Another friend of mine had to repeat that to herself quite often because there are a lot of things that are different in Ukraine in comparison to the States…)

I think the same phrase can be used with the same idea you mentioned above. “People are different… but it’s okay.”

Thanks for the good reminder, Jon.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 15
  
  Like that phrase. I may have to use that! Thanks for sharing!
  
  Reply
ThatGuyKC

September 15

Amen. My wife and I recently went through “Love & Respect” and the major point Dr. Eggerichs repeatedly drove home was “We’re not wrong, just different”.

We have a strong tendency to interpret other people through the lens of our own beliefs, backgrounds and history of experience. If we took a moment to pause and calm down enough to see someone like they see themselves I think grace would prevail more often.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 16
  
  I think so too. Thanks man.
  
  Reply
Luther Wesley

September 16

We are, especially as believers, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. The work that He would have me do is not the same that my neighbor must do. We are all members of the Body, unique members, with different functions that allow the Body to operated.

Reply
1. Jonathan Pearson
  
  September 16
  
  well put.
  
  Reply
Lois Mclaughlin

December 8

A good friend of mine, a missionary to Ukraine for the last 17 years, has a phrase he tells all who come for a visit to our country. haha..

Reply
Sophie Yates

March 15

I also thought of Michael Hyatt’s post from about a year ago in regards to knowing our weaknesses and not trying to strengthen them, but allowing somebody else to do a task who has that as a strength. Thanks for sharing Jon. This is why Jesus gives us the Body, we all need each other with our different gifts and talents. Some students encounter God through structure and format, others through a seemingly lack of structure.

Reply

JONATHAN | PEARSON

Don’t Box Me In

23 responses to “Don’t Box Me In”

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