The Color of Ourselves?

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." 1 John 4:7

"I want to be the best blue pencil I can be!"

I learned something really interesting today about myself and other people. I'm currently living with three other missionaries and we spend a lot of our lunch and evening time socializing in our apartment. This morning, one of the other Elders pulled out an interesting book. I imagine that it's well known. It was called "The Color Code."

The Color Code is part personality quiz, part social essay. The basic premise was that our personalities can be gauged by one of four types; red, blue, white, or yellow. It isn't surprising that my unique personality was clearly labeled as blue, which was the emotional, intimate type. I listened as that Elder read what felt like my life story, but was actually the book's description of a blue personality. I was fairly impressed. As I listened to more of what the book had to say, I had an interesting insight, which I would like to share.

As we talk about the commandments and their colors, I think we sometimes forget to think about the color within people. We are all children of God, but that does not make us the same. All of us have different appearances, strengths, struggles, and personalities. We can sometimes struggle when we are surrounded by people who think or act differently than we do. We can sometimes mistake differences for sin, when the person they are trying to become doesn't match up with ours. God does not ask us to become Jesus Christ. He asks us to become more like Him, because He knows that following Christ's example will improve anyone.

As I've thought more about The Color Code, I remember that none of us is rooted in a certain personality. Through Jesus Christ, all of us can bring out the best in ourselves and gain greater hope. I love my savior and I want Him to know how much I love Him and wish I was more like Him. Even so, I know that He loves me and is helping me along every step of the way.

Elder Cockrum