"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.   I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:   I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”     (John 17:20-23), NIV)
     Unity is important to God.  Jesus prayed for it.  Paul preached it.  We all want to see it.  What does it look like?
     We had a “silver” rain this past week, a freezing mist that was beautiful on the trees but dangerous on lonely roads.  It reminded me of back in 2002, when I was attending Asbury Seminary to work on my doctorate.  During a break between courses, there was a significant ice storm.  I decided to grab my chain saw and join a work crew to help clean up the mess.   Large trees in some areas were torn apart with huge branches broken from the weight of the ice.   Power lines were down, houses had damage from fallen trees, roads were blocked….it was a mess.   Formerly majestic trees, which at one time stood as powerful  lone sentinels, were forever damaged by the storm.
     I noticed another phenomenon, however.   In areas where trees were growing close together, the damage was much less significant.  The weight of the branches was compensated by leaning against the trunk or limbs of other trees.  The sun shining on these iced branches, intertwined with intricate supporting patterns, reflected a remarkable, mysterious beauty.   There was an amazing wonderland created by the support of trees leaning on each other, even through and after a bad storm that caused so much damage elsewhere.
      That strikes me as a good picture of unity.    When the storms of life hit, we need to be standing close to other Christians.  The closer we stand, the more we will be able to hold up.  Leaning on each other is one beautiful image of what unity looks like.    I’m thrilled to be a part of a church where it is safe to do that!

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