Oneness

O Lord what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. – Psalm 104:24 (NLT)

E pluribus unum is the Latin phrase meaning, “out of many, one.” It was chosen by an act of the Continental Congress in 1782 to inspire the creation of one nation from thirteen colonies. The notion of many different colonies coming together to establish a single government to combat their common enemy is precisely what gave birth to America.

American independence could not have been won without American solidarity.

The need for oneness is not only borne out of political necessity. It also has theological roots that govern the whole of creation. The aim for many to become one is rooted in the belief that out of one have come many.

Diversity is a part of our Creator’s essence.

250,000 known plant species… 10,000 known bird species… 32,000 known fish species… 6,000 known frog species… And the human body is comprised of over 200 different types of cells, each with its own special function.

Our diversity is actually the flip side of our oneness. One person’s difference is another person’s self-reflection. The Christian mystic Howard Thurmond said, “You can go so deeply into yourself that you will come up another person.”

Unity is not uniformity. We must come together in the full face of all our differences to effectively combat the crises that threaten all of us.

The protection and preservation of the environment… Diplomacy that leads to mutual peace and prosperity instead of mutual warfare and economic collapse… Vigilance against pathogens and diseases that spark global pandemics…

These are some of the battles that can only be engaged effectively by human solidarity.

Prayer

Sovereign God, you have made us one. Now help us become the one we were all meant to be by your singular design. Amen.