In 2007 The Denver Post reported a story about a 22-foot statue of Jesus. During a storm, lighting struck and cut off Jesus’ hands and feet!

The nuns who took care of it were asked if or when they could replace the hands and feet. They weren’t really sure since they relied on donations. Fair enough.

But if you ask me, I don’t think they should fix it. Why? Because of 1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Only a statue of Jesus with the hands and feet missing is truly accurate–after all, we are to be those hands and feet; we are the body of Christ.

Recently I was talking to a group of 10- to 13-year olds about this very thing. I printed off a picture of the statue, told them the story, and had them write their own names (and the names of some other Christians they know) on top of where Jesus’ hands and feet had originally been. I asked them to tape up the pictures in their rooms as a reminder.

I realize there are days when, by virtue of our own distraction, fatigue or apathy, we’re kind of limp. But let’s do our prayerful best to make those days the exception and not the rule.

You are important. You have a God-ordained role to play in our hope-deprived world. Sometimes it’s a big thing, and sometimes it’s a small thing; but it’s always something.

Only a statute of Jesus with the hands and feet missing is truly accurate. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Matthew Ruttan