THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE

John 17:21 ...That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

This phrase appears in a UCC logo, and it is the foundation of our faith. When people ask me about the UCC, I tell them it's the "I'm OK, You're OK" church. We are all-inclusive and non-judgmental. But it's not always easy. Our life experiences, our upbringing, and even the evening news can tarnish that noble ideal. It's difficult to accept the fact that we are all members of God's family - brothers and sisters - and must treat each other as such. Our differences are simply a result of the nature of God because God loves wondrous variety and has created the world's people with diverse and unique ideas, opinions, appearances, and beliefs.

As I turn the page in my day planner to April, I notice a variety of special holy days are mentioned. As Christians, we enter the Easter season following Christ's resurrection, and the paraments are changed to white. There's Ramadan which continues until April 10th, a time of fasting and praying, when Muslims believe that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Mohammed. The Jewish Passover begins on the 23rd, celebrating the Israelites' exodus to freedom after centuries of slavery. An image came to my mind that might help explain this awesome relationship we have with the rest of the world - and with God.

April is known for its rain and rainbows. Rainbows still inspire me; I'm still inclined to run outside and look up in awe at a rainbow during a sunny shower. What exactly is a rainbow anyway?

Light changes speed as it moves from one medium to another, like through a raindrop or a prism. This speed change causes the light to be refracted and to exit the new medium at a different angle. A beam of white light is separated into its spectrum of colors. (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

 

Simply put, white light is not independent. It is composed of all the colors of a rainbow.  Let's imagine ourselves then as the various colors of the rainbow:

Native American - red, animism or 'life-ism.'

Christianity - violet, representing the forgiveness of sin.

Judaism - blue, representing divinity.

Islam - green, representing paradise or Jannah.

Buddhism - yellow, enlightenment.

Sikhism - orange, representing wisdom.

 

Is it possible that we all are a diffraction of God's single white light?  Maybe. But can we find anything in common, since we may be born of one source? Yes..... consider what we call 'The Golden Rule.'

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Native American: "We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive."

Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Judaism: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor."

Islam: "Not one of you truly believes, until you wish for others what you wish for yourself."

Buddhism: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."

Sikhism: "I am a stranger to no one, and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed I am a friend to all."

 

This is where the one-ness lies, the one-ness that Jesus hopes for us. It's what we share. Despite all our oddities and opinions, one truth is at the heart of all we do.... that we love one another, not only those with other cultural or religious beliefs but those sitting next to us with varying opinions. As the weather warms, and winter weeps its last melting tears, let us remember that we are family and embrace each other as such.

 

I see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful

Like a rainbow

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Jessi