What the Church Can Learn From Carpet

In this month’s issue of Fast Company, one of the articles looks at the increased attention that designers are placing on following patterns found in nature – the term for this design process is biomimicry. Biomimicry is “about taking the genius of the natural world and learning something from it,” says Janine Benyus, who coined the term in 1997.

The article (“Truly Intelligent Design” by Kate Rockwood) features a series of photographs of natural elements (flowers, woodpeckers, and butterflies) paired with the products that were designed after them (centrifugal pump, ice axe, and a bicycle helmet, respectively). One of the photographs and the caption accompanying it caught my attention for its genius in design and for its application for the church.

Entropy Carpet by Interface designed their floor coverings based on the natural variances found in a wheat field. The product’s designer, David Oakley, states, “It’s only in our synthetic world that we want perfection – one shade, no blemishes. If we can’t match a carpet’s color exactly we call it a defect. Nature doesn’t work that way.” Rockwood goes on to say, “Like fallen leaves, riverbed stones, or a field of wildflowers, each Entropy carpet tile is distinct and varied, yet when laid together, they blend into a cohesive pattern. Because Entropy can use multiple dye lots and be set in any direction, there’s less waste during the production and installation process.”

When I read that caption I immediately thought of the church, specifically our church. We are not perfect. We are not all exactly alike. But that does not mean that we are called “defective” or “worthless.” Indeed, “nature doesn’t work that way.” Much like fields of wheat or fall leaves or the stones surrounding a waterfall, each of us are unique in our giftedness and our abilities. Each of us has something to contribute to the whole of what makes up the people of University UMC. And without each of our individual contributions, the whole is somehow less than it could be (or should be).

Entropy carpet tiles were designed to fit together in multiple ways. They were designed to give freedom to the end user. They were also designed to reflect the beauty of their natural inspiration. The people in the church were designed to fit together in multiple ways. We were designed to produce freedom and creativity as we use God’s gifts. We were also designed to reflect the beauty of our Creator.

Therefore, I pray that we can all see how each one of us brings something special to the church and how each one of us reflects the graciousness of our Creator. As you continue to consider the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” I pray that you see how vital we all are to the continued work of Christ in this world. May you see how the variations and nuances of personality and giftedness create a beautiful tapestry that works together as God intended.(photograph by Jonathan Kantor)