"A house divided against itself cannot stand," said Senate candidate Abraham Lincoln in his 1858 Illinois convention speech, amidst the backdrop of slavery and the boiling tensions that later led to the Civil War. He realized the essential importance of national unity.
With our cultural and political climate on flashpoint sensitivity these days, I believe unity has become even more important than the issues that divide us. Like a marriage, if you cut off all communication, we simply cannot function. And we all know what the result will be.
Let's drill down deeper into unity.
There seems to be a mistaken impression that we all have to agree for us to be unified. Or we have to be great friends. God boldly asks us to love one another, but in a nuts and bolts way, what does that mean? To me, it's where duality comes in.
Roughly defined, and for this discussion, duality refers to two opposing groups who ironically share the same needs. Each may prefer different methods for achieving solutions, but also share essential common ground. A positive duality brings the two sides together to accomplish good things that serve the common good. We're seeking common ground here, so what's our shared baseline?
An unavoidable truth - we are all connected.
Created in God’s image, we are related – ALL of humanity. But our shared spiritual DNA does not mean sameness. There's so much variation in our life experiences, and that diversity can foster adversity. Everyone's unique consciousness is their own world filtered through unique upbringing, experiences, cultures and emotional traumas. We are all shaped by the sponge that is our human mind and heart. We soak up every tiny bit along the way.
We are all at the same time both the problem and the solution. Our insecurities are unanswered questions about our inherent value and the quality of our love. That inner uncertainty can produce a silent suspicion, an animosity towards people groups we don’t even know. We stay in our tribes, aligned by similar assumptions, and clouded by emotional bias. It’s really not surprising that it’s such a challenge to come together.
So what is the solution?
We need to realize the essential importance of our connectivity. Again, we're all God's children and we are all on that path - understood or not yet realized. Strife and division works against all of this. Our relationships are polluted, our ministry thwarted and the enemy wins. We need a way out. A way back to the Father.
The scourge of sin didn't cut off anyone's birthright, only our knowledge and correct vision of him, and therefore our access - from OUR dim-glass perspective. After the prodigal son humbled himself and returned to the family farm, his father received him exuberantly, with open arms. It was only about love. The son didn't have to first pay back his father's money that he squandered.
So why does God ask us to love others?
Back to the nuts and bolts, duality can benefit both sides in a marvelous tactical way. On the Survivor TV show, every strong alliance is based on skill, hard work and expertise brought to the table - not necessarily on fondness for each other. They set their differences aside and join together to win the prize, creating mutual respect along the way. This is the real bedrock of our country’s democratic ideals and processes. Abraham Lincoln understood that.
We’ve all been through a lot of trauma these past few years, and Covid really has underscored our connection - as a planet! The pandemic has asked, even begged all of us, for a global understanding and cooperation. It’s now so essential to put aside our pride, challenge our assumptions, and ask the Lord to heal our cynicism. Help us Lord regain our compassion for all. Let's reach out in wholesome dialog with others, no matter where they come from. We need a church with no walls, and hearts with no boundaries!
Ephesians 2:16-18
"Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father."
About the Author
Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.
He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.
