“There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. (Ephesians 4:4)
“One body, one spirit, one hope” is a powerful vision of who we are meant to be as the people of God, regardless of ethnicity, faith tradition, or station in life. Unfortunately, there are forces at play in our world that would divide rather than unite us. There are those that seek to drive a wedge between us by focusing on differences or demonizing those who are not of our same tribe. Xenophobia—fear of the Other—has unfortunately been used by politicians and religious leaders as a strategy to sow the seeds of fear and distrust that would turn us against each other.
But the Creator reminds us that ALL of God’s children are precious and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The hope to which we are called is just that—to recognize our oneness, our common humanity, our mutual aspirations. It is to acknowledge the shared values of many faith traditions. Several years ago, there was a special exhibit at the International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio.. One of the most striking pieces was the “Peace Labyrinth” quilt designed by artist Janet Bear McTavish, an artist from Duluth, MN. In her tapestry (pictured above) she sought to show that love of neighbor and the Golden Rule are common threads found in all the world’s religions.
My prayer is that we might come to see our nation as a rich tapestry of diversity; that we are richer for the contributions of the many different colored threads that make us who we are. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of God’s vision for Beloved Community, one that could transform people and relationships grounded in reconciliation, justice, trust, and love. In his 1963 “I Have Dream” speech, King said: “This is our hope…with faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”
December is traditionally the season of giving, generosity, kindness, and goodwill. I’m reminded of a story from WW I. The “Christmas Truce of 1914” was a spontaneous ceasefire where French and British soldiers emerged from the trenches to join with Germans in singing songs like “Silent Night”, enemies bridging divides with shared music and faith. The event saw soldiers meet, share food, play football, and briefly forget the war, in a powerful experience of peace and connection. This was an extraordinary moment that proved that we humans are capable of overcoming our differences and can come together to celebrate our common humanity and hope for a better future.