Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is
   when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
   running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
   running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
   which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
   life forevermore.  (NRSV)

Reflection
How good it is to live in unity. This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. We live in polarizing times, and it is easy to write people off who disagree with you. It is much harder to reach out and understand different perspectives or work together towards a common goal. Instead, society stresses a win-lose philosophy. Your way or the highway. All or nothing.

What would it look like if we lived up to this call for living in unity? What if winning only occurred by coming together and working towards a common goal? The work visiting Urban Youth Mission groups can get done during a mission-trip week never ceases to amaze me. When a team of youth are set to one task, you get to witness some youth take leadership roles, others discover new talents about themselves, and collectively they make an impact. It makes you wonder what could happen if we all worked together—not just a small group on a mission trip, or the home congregation supporting them, but the entire church. Instead of focusing on each other’s differences, let’s come together and celebrate our collective potential.

Prayer
Creator God, help me in my weakness. Help me to put aside my will and live more fully into your ideas of unity, because only when we live in unity can your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Written by Katie Patterson, Youth Mission Coordinator

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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