The Joy of Unity

A typical afternoon in our house goes something like this... Noah copy-cats Daniel. Daniel lets out a blood-curdling scream in angst. Noah maliciously karate-kicks Daniel in stomach. Daniel launches his toys across the room and bolts to tattle to mom. On the way, he knocks Michael over, whose ball goes flying under the big chair where Michael is unable to get it. But he tries anyway, sobbing passionately about his loss. Then perceiving threat, Oliver the cat, who was sitting in the chair, locks his defenses on this hysterical intruder. Claws and teeth sink into Michael's arms. Crying in pain, Michael attempts to dislodge himself, and Oliver's grasp tightens. The crying rockets to a feverish pitch. A panicked Heather jumps to Michael's aid, knocks over Daniel--who was on the way to her--while the timer for the oven begins its chorus of rings. Ahhhh... dinner is ready! Sometimes we wonder if we will ever make it to the next day.

Then, after dinner, after baths, after dressing for bed and cleaning up, we sit down for a family read. Dad lies on the floor, book open. Noah snuggles to the one side, while Daniel sits to the other, close to mom. Michael backs up for Daniel to hold him in his lap, which he does happily. Occasionally Michael gets up, and we receive the blessing of his hand on our heads, rubbing us as if a congratulatory petting were our reward for a long day's work. Back to Daniel's lap. Together we read. Together we talk. Together we laugh. Together we enjoy the unity of family.

Times like these we see in a new light the Psalmist's words, "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!" (Psalm 133)

I truly believe a healthy church family is no different--on both sides of unity! At times is seems like things will never come together. People act, others react, some get knocked over, some cry, some seem to have claws and fangs, some who are looking out for the good of another end up running over someone else. And we wonder if we will make it another week. Yet in the midst of all this, there is something refreshing about being a family. At the end of the day, when we stop to think about the relationships we have made, the history we are making, we realize we are together--learning, growing, laughing, loving, enjoying the unity of God's family.

Blessings,
JON