Our Unity
by Ellen Clodfelter
One of my favorite things in this world is a Disney movie. A few of my best-loved include Beauty and the Beast, Encanto, and Enchanted. I almost always have these movies on when I am cleaning house, folding laundry, dusting, and vacuuming. Trust me, I could break out in song anytime… “Be our guest, We don’t talk about Bruno, and Happy Working Song.” In fact, I have Enchanted on in the background as I write this.
These movies came to mind for a specific reason. In each, the characters must work in unity to accomplish their goals. In Beauty and the Beast, the pieces of furniture work together to help Belle and the Beast fall in love with each other. In Encanto, the entire town comes together to rebuild the house. In Enchanted, the rats, cockroaches, flies, and pigeons all work together to clean up the apartment.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that these “children’s” movies are about unity; this does not come naturally to us. We need to teach our children that unity is very important. We put our kids on sports teams, in dance classes and onto group projects so they can learn how to work together.
Things don’t change much when we grow up. There is so much division in this world. Russia or Ukraine, Republican or Democratic, Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, Jesus or the world, coffee or tea, Purdue or IU? There are so many things that we just cannot agree on. Often, we only think of ourselves, and this selfishness means that we hurt other people as we try to satisfy ourselves. This is the opposite of unity.
Division isn’t anything new, it is a common theme in the Bible as well. Tower of Babel, the Prodigal Son, Cain and Abel, The Flood, Joseph and his brothers: again and again the people on earth fell into disunity. This is why Jesus and his disciples taught on unity so many times.
In Philippians 2:2-3 Paul says, “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
In Acts 4:32 Luke says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” Because of their unity, “the Lord added to their number daily who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
Imagine how much more we could accomplish to further God’s Kingdom if we are united together. What if these words were written about us, “Because of our unity the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved?”
I will leave you with a verse in the Bible. Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell in unity.
P.S. In case you were wondering, the correct answers to some of the questions above are Jesus, coffee, and Purdue. 😊
