The Goodness of Variety

The Goodness of Variety and Diversity

Words matter because they mean something. And more importantly, it matters how a word is used.

Take the word, “variety”. A synonym is “diversity”. And diversity has certainly been used in positive and unfortunately, negative, ways.

I love diversity.

Imagine only two colors in the crayon box. The world would be, well, very black and white.

With no room for hope or joy or variety.

A line from William Cowper’s 1785 poem, “The Task”, is “Variety’s the very spice of life. That gives it all its flavour.”

And I don’t want to live in a world with no flavor. No variety. No diversity.

When There’s No Variety or Diversity

It becomes even more frightening when I envision a world where everyone is like me.

If that became reality:

— There would be no working automobiles. Or any other kind of machinery or electricity.

— Everyone would walk around wearing, well, nothing. Because nobody would have the knowledge to make fabric or cloth.

— And forget about food. Nobody could run fast enough to kill a buffalo or grow vegetables because we’d all have brown thumbs.

— Humankind would live outside in the blistering heat or deathly cold because none of us would know how to build a shelter.

God Created Diversity

I’m grateful for the variety of God’s world. And for His diverse creation of so many colors, and plants, and animals, and people.

In Genesis 1, God created the heavens, the earth, and everything on land, in the sea, and in the air. “And God saw that it was good.” And then He created “man” (humans). “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

God created diversity and He saw that as good. Very good.

And He gave humans free will to make their own choices.

I choose to agree with God about the goodness of diversity.

And I also choose to pray for others, regardless of their choices.

Thanks for remembering my blog is not the place for political or controversial comments. But I welcome positive sharing about how the words of my post have touched you.

How has the goodness of variety helped you?

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Joni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.

May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.