Stay in your lane
I was talking with one of my kids the other day about learning new skills, and we were talking about how we don’t have to learn everything. Some people are great at building or fixing buildings while not so attuned to fixing cars. Others love to get dirty under the hood of a car, but don’t ask them to rewire an outlet.
It wasn’t but a few hours later when I was working one of my jobs and “feeling guilty” for emailing a coworker to help me in a situation I found myself, knowing they had the expertise to deal with the crisis. Because I was dealing, literally, with another human being’s life, I didn’t want to say (or do) something that would bring further hurt instead of the healing and compassion desired, something my co-worker did excellently because she had extensive training in that area.
A few days later, she passed along an email to me to help another person find the information they needed because it was something I did daily and easily was able to accomplish that task.
That’s when I realized how wonderful it is to live in community. Genuine community where people are willing to use their skill set to help you as you use your skill set to help them. Working together for the greater good of others.
I think there is a misrepresentation sometimes that we have to master everything, improve your weaknesses, and always strive to be better. While some of that is true, if taken at face value those sayings have left me frustrated, exhausted, and zapped the creativity out of me.
Sometimes God calls us to improve our weaknesses, but for me, I find that’s usually in character traits versus skill set. God wants me to improve my self control, live a life of selflessness, and give thanks in all circumstances. But, God also talks in I Corinthians 12:12-27 about how we are all one body but made up of many parts, each having special gifts to offer each other, forming together one body, one unit, one whole. Each part needed equally, each part equally important.
God made me with a passion for writing, speaking and encouraging people, pointing them back to God. He didn’t make me with a love of marketing, finances, or growing a business. If I can hire someone for the tasks I don’t understand (or do well) instead of taking three times as long to accomplish those tasks (poorly, I might add) on my own, why wouldn’t I? Then I would have more time to devote to the gifts God created in me – writing, speaking, and encouraging others by pointing them back to Him. Just as I’m filled up by writing, others are filled up by marketing, accounting or growing businesses.
Today I want to encourage you it’s okay to “stay in your lane.” Let’s remember to thank those who tackle the jobs they love so we can tackle the ones we love. And when we can help others with their “least favorite job,” let’s do it!
© Cheri Swalwell 2021
Yes! I agree! Early in our marriage my husband and I would do everything ourselves (mechanic work, attempting remodeling projects, learning new skills) to save money, but over time we learned that sanity, sleep, and providing work for experts are also important.