I'm trying to get my head around oneness.
You know, when I'm driving through Wales I feel 'at one' with the land of my forefathers.
And, taking the example of a family, they can be one even though they're tearing each other's hair out!
But oneness seems to be more than this...
In community-living we like to think we're one because we share everything together.
However, having recently visited another church known for their oneness even though they don't share things as practically as we do, I'm left asking where does oneness really come from?
There is partly something in having a shared history together, but that can breed indifference as much as oneness.
Perhaps the added ingredient of mutual affection tips the balance to achieve blessed unity? I'm not sure.
But if that is the case... What makes Christian unity so special? Perhaps it's not? But actually I think it is.
The ability to join soul to soul and heart to heart with others is not unique to the Christian faith. But what is peculiar, I think, is the sense of a common destiny, a single hope, wrapped up in a spiritual love so powerful it captures the very being of every person who puts their trust in it (or should I say Him?)
He prayed for such oneness. It paralyses our independence, but leaves us with our individuality. It wreaks havoc with our human ties but calls us to something purer. And, if we let it conquer us practically, divorces us from every chain designed on earth to bind us from one another.
I should say I believe such oneness can be achieved without living together, but when it's doing so much why avoid the inevitable?
No comments:
Post a Comment