113: Welcome Your Weakness

I think I might have mentioned this before, but one of my all-time favorite TV shows is the American version of The Office. It’s one of those shows I can rewatch over and over and over again without it ever getting old. Most of the time, its humor is subtle and dry and I just love it so very much. Anyway, recently I found myself watching the finale episode for Season Three, and in it, Steve Carell’s character, Michael Scott, is interviewing for a job with corporate.

In his interview, he is asked to share what he perceives to be his greatest strengths as a regional manager. Without missing a beat, Michaels offers to instead, share his weaknesses, and proceeds to answer with the following: “I work too hard, I care too much, and sometimes I get too invested in my job.” When asked again to share his strengths, Michael says, “Well, my weaknesses are actually strengths.”

As per usual for The Office, it’s a funny, awkward scene that so accurately reflects the human experience. Michael’s answer is classic, as one of the pieces of advice we often hear heading into an interview is to make sure to give our weaknesses a positive spin. After all, the goal is to impress.

I don’t know about you, but typically, if I’m hoping to be hired, if I want to be noticed, if I want to be picked, if I long to be liked, I’m probably going to try to put my best self forward. I’ll want you to know all I can do and what I can offer. I’ll try to paint myself in a positive light. I’ll showcase the strengths of who I am, and I’ll make sure you know how I will add value if you choose to accept me. Maybe you can relate?

Ultimately, I think we do this because, deep down, we believe the highlighted versions of ourselves is what qualifies us to belong. But what if Michael Scott {of all people} was on to something. What if our weaknesses actually were strengths? What if our limitations had a part to play? What if our flaws had something to offer? What if they mattered? What if all of who we are was welcome—all our weaknesses, fears, anxieties, needs, limitations? What if we could openly share them and still belong? Not in spite of them, but in light of them?

There’s a familiar passage in 1 Corinthians 12 that talks about the different parts of the body of Christ. And typically when we study this passage, we’re doing so in the context of spiritual gifting. We’re focusing on the fact that each part of the body has something to offer and we’re commending—validating—those gifts and offerings, even if they aren’t the gifts we possess. I believe that is a true and good way to approach this passage. I’ve done it before, many times, no regrets.

But a question I’m considering now is, what if this passage also has something to say to us as we hold the knowledge of all we cannot do and cannot offer? How might it help us as we explore the possibility of welcoming our weakness?

In 1 Corinthians 12:14-27, we read:

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

When we read this passage and only consider spiritual gifting, one thing we lose sight of is that if a hand is going to show up fully as a hand, if an eye is going to show up fully as an eye, not only do those parts belong given what they can do and can offer, they also belong with what they cannot do and cannot offer. There are certain things a hand cannot do, there are certain things an eye cannot do, there are certain things a limited, finite human person cannot do, and what this passage helps us remember is that still, in the body of Christ, they belong.

So I wonder if part of what Paul was trying to do here is remind the fractured church in Corinth that a community is meant to have space for even the weakest parts of its members. Weakness has a part to play. If weakness were banned, it seems the body of Christ would cease to exist.

When we welcome our weakness, we make space for connection and relationship.

First, we experience connection and relationship with one another. When we are each willing to courageously show up as our whole selves—with both our strengths and weaknesses—we fit together in a really beautiful, powerful way. And when we are willing to receive one another with grace, compassion, humility, and love, belonging is cultivated. Not because anything goes, but because, is it turns out, when one part’s weakness connects with another part’s strength, an authentic relationship is formed. As Bono once offered, “The blessing of your weakness is it forces you into friendships. The things that you lack, you look for in others.” We were created to be in relationship and in community with one another, and our weaknesses help us get there.

Second, when we welcome our weakness, we experience deeper connection and communion with God. Welcoming our weakness creates space for God’s spirit to move.

As Paul shared in 2 Corinthians 12:9 - 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[a] is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

The power of Christ, the spirit we belong to, meets us in our weakness, equips and empowers us to embody the character of Jesus in the world around us and to participate in the hard work of love. Both personally and communally as the body of Christ. In Christ, our weaknesses are not a liability, but an opportunity for God to do God’s best work.

When I was growing up, my family went to worship with our church nearly every Sunday. And as I grew in my faith, I came to experience worship as an opportunity to offer my best to God. I wanted to offer my engaged participation, my Sunday best, my most beautiful singing voice, my undivided attention, and my small weekly tithe. That being said, I almost always experienced a sort of internal resistance whenever we came to the prayer of confession in the order of worship.

I struggled to reconcile confessing my sins and shortcomings with offering my best to God. There seemed to be a major disconnect. But the more I sat and wrestled with it, I began to consider that maybe confession is an integral part of worship because God doesn’t just want our best—God wants all of who we are. So, maybe confession is a type of offering. A way to say, “God, this is where I’ve fallen short. This is how I don’t measure up. This is all I cannot do apart from You.” And I imagine God’s reply each time is a very warm, “Welcome.”

Today, remember to welcome your weakness. May we have the courage to show up fully as we are. May we be willing to offer our whole selves—strengths and weaknesses, highlights and shortcomings, abilities and inabilities—to God and one another. May we be welcomed, and may such a welcome foster the connection and relationship we were created for, as together, we seek to become the body of Christ—the people God calls and invites us to be.