Apples and Oranges

But they're both fruits...

I am awful at idiomatic expressions. Seriously. I just create my own idioms: Take a shot in the dark! That’s a whole different ballpark. This is problematic for me since I am a writer. As Ziva of “NCIS” once said, “Ah! American idioms drive me up the hall.”

What’s even more problematic is that my roommate is also awful at idioms. We don’t even pick up on each other’s mistakes anymore. The other night, she tried to explain how two things were the same by saying, “Apples and oranges.”* If I had been present for this conversation, I would have probably nodded my head and gotten on with life. But no. She was with people who actually grasp meanings of expressions. They laughed…a lot.  It’s okay, though. Now Courtney and I both understand how to use the phrase. See below:

You can’t compare the Harry Potter movies to the books! That’s like comparing apples and oranges!

How can you say pens are more useful than scissors? You’re comparing apples and oranges.

*Disclaimer: “Comparing apples and oranges” is not to be confused with the diametric expression “same difference.” Thank you and have a good day.

Are you awaiting some life relevancy? If not, you can stop reading now. If so, here goes.

Christians love to pray that God would reveal to them His will for their lives. I think they really mean “plan,” but they say “will” and it changes everything. Let’s just say, though, comparing God’s will and God’s plan for your life is like comparing apples and oranges. It doesn’t work.

³ God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. ⁴ Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— ⁵ not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. ⁶ Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. ⁷ God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thess. 4:3-8

My Community Group leader shared these verses with us a couple weeks ago, just days after I had to make a decision about my summer plans. His wife laughed as realization ran down my face like a raw egg: earlier that week, I'd sent her an email asking her to pray for guidance as I was seeking God's will for my summer. In Community Group that night, we discussed all that God's will for our lives might entail. Then we talked about how it's different than God's plan for our lives. 

Quick differentiation:

God's will: Be holy! This can involve a lot of different things: i.e. the Great Commission, the Ten Commandments, love your neighbor as yourself. But the idea is that God's will is the same for all believers. It's also immutable and set in stone.

God's plan: This is different for each believer. God's plan for my life might involve overseas missions or going to seminary or working at a summer camp (*cough cough*), whereas His plan for Courtney's life might involve teaching in an innercity school or spending her summer at home. This is usually what Christians want God to reveal to them. We know, because of Jeremiah 29:11, that God's plan for our lives is good, but we want to know what it is going to involve. I think we feel apprehensive about this because it seems easily changed and shifting...

I had a miniature panic attack over spring break when I was deciding between India and Camp Longridge for this summer (which was really like deciding between an apple and orange). I wanted to make the right choice, but I wasn't sure what it was. At some point in the deciding process, though, I realized that I am following God's will for my life...or at least trying my best to do so. I also realized that the Holy Spirit indwells me and acts as my counselor. So even if I wasn't feeling some supernatural conviction, the Holy Spirit was still helping me decide.

Feeling paradoxically empowered and insecure, I made my decision...(drumroll please)...and I'm going to be a counselor at Camp Longridge. God's will would have my go either place and be holy: do good and share with others (Heb. 13:16). God's plan has me ministering to kids and youth at Camp Longridge this summer. I'm excited. Aaaand very ready for the summer to get here already!

(They're kissing.)