United or Divided? | We Need Each Other

While we have been living in substantially divisive times for the past few years, there have been numerous conversations about how to navigate division. Even within the past Salt Blog series, we’ve taken time to consider commonalities and topics about how to align despite our differences. I wonder what it might look like to take our musings about unity a step further.

How do we transition from talking about how to get along better to identifying how we may actually need each other? God is an intentional creator, and we can trust that oftentimes, our differences aren’t just there to be noticed, irritating, or in the way. Perhaps they exist to actually help us each develop into who God intends us to be.

In what way might the sharply-dressed downtown businessman need the vulnerable woman on the sidewalk who has been run ragged by her addiction?

In what way might the young activist at the protest need the aging conservative farmer?

In what way might the stressed-out minimum-wage employee need the toddler who is learning how to walk?

In Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10, we see two main characters who are culturally and ethnically very different. Through this parable Jesus conveys the meaning of “loving one’s neighbor” as he references a Samaritan caring for an injured Jewish man who was passed by on the side of the road by other people of his own kind. This is a beautiful and thought-provoking sentiment on its own. But what if we get curious about how this encounter impacted each of the men? It’s not hard to argue that despite their differences, the Jewish man very much needed the Samaritan man to help him. Is it possible that the Samaritan man also needed the Jewish man? Maybe he benefited from experiencing the love of Jesus moving through him in his act of compassion. Maybe he needed this encounter with a vulnerable Jewish man to shift his perspective on how he viewed his Jewish neighbors. Maybe he was in a season of needing to feel needed and helpful.

Recognizing those who are different from us as potential sources of education, encouragement or growth can soften our hearts and expand our capacity. When we posture ourselves to learn from those across the aisle, or those of a different culture, or those of a different generation, I believe we can experience a deeper level of the rich beauty of God’s design.