Introduction

The people of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Hickman, Neb., have organized a Spirit-Driven Task Force, bringing together almost forty members who have committed to a year of study, prayer, reflection, and deliberation to discern how God is calling the congregation to renewal for the sake of his mission.

This is the thirteenth of a series of weekly meditations with the aim to inspire reflection and encourage conversation among the members of the task force as we journey together in obedience to our Lord’s calling to serve him.

Rod Koehler, a member of the Spirit Driven Task Force, shared this week’s meditation, written by Pastor Kenneth L. Samuel.

Scripture

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity!” —Psalm 133:1

Meditation

How often do we think of human unity as some utopian dream with no hope of actual realization? In the current climate of partisan bickering, class warfare, and religious rivalry, social unity increasingly appears to be a distant mirage. Could it be that our dream of unity is unrealized and unrealistic because it is based on assumptions or uniformity? God must love diversity; that’s why God made so much of it. It is precisely our rich variations of expression and perspective that give our world the wonderful distinctions of color, texture, taste and contrast that keep us listening to and learning from one another. Variety is indeed the spice of life.

Can we recognize difference without labeling the “other” deficient? Can we be assertive about what we believe without being abrasive toward those who follow a different path? Do we possess enough of God’s grace to recognize human oneness in the midst of human pluralism? How good and pleasant it is when even the starkest differences among us do not prevent us from dwelling together in unity. Unity of humanity and oneness of creation are still the aims of a vast universe steeped in great diversity. Uniformity is a vain wish. Unity is a sacred goal.

Prayer

Dear God, you said that unity among us is good and pleasant. Now help us to affirm your declaration by our commitment to realizing unity despite dis-uniformity in our communities today. Amen.