Connection Among Christians
“Realize that everything connects to everything else.” – Leonardo DaVinci
Those who know me well know that I love children’s books. One of my favorites is a story called “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt [Check out this delightful read aloud video with origami illustration by Jenny Chan].
One day, Duncan is assigned a coloring assignment in class, but when he looks inside of his crayon box, he finds a parcel of letters from his crayons, each detailing why they’ve decided to quit. None of them are satisfied with how they are being used. To make his crayons happy again, Duncan must figure out some way to please each of them, for they all have different reasons for quitting.
This seemingly simple book, however, raises an important question, “Is it okay to quit something when other people depend on you?” You see, all of the crayons in Duncan’s box have problems with their current positions as crayons. The red, gray, and blue crayons feel they are overworked; the beige and white crayons have some identity issues; and the purple, black, yellow, and orange crayons all feel like they should be doing something different than the owner’s wishes. We get it purple crayon… we want to color outside of the lines too!
But just like Duncan and his crayons discover – together they create something beautiful that uses all their many colors and talents! This is what the apostle Paul is trying to help the Christians in Ephesus see as well. He begs them “to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (vv. 1 – 3)
Sometimes, as a part of the body of Christ, we can feel just like Duncan’s crayons. We may think we know better than God about how we can use our talents, and where we should be serving or if we should be serving at all! We may get tired or bored of ministry and want to go on strike (I mean, geez, why do I have to hang out with all those other pesky crayons in the box?)
Each of us has our own unique “colors” – our spiritual gifts, life experiences, natural abilities, and passions for ministry. And, we share one baptism in the Lord that unifies us for the work of the Kingdom. When one of us is missing, we are weaker for it. But when we offer ourselves up, God turns our self-interests, doubts, and complaints into a work of art for the ages. The one body of Christ is a gift God has given us to strengthen our faith. Let us not loose sight of this and enjoy coloring in the Master Artist's hands.
WRESTLING WITH THE WORD
- What are the characteristics Paul lists of one who is “living a life worthy of the calling” and how do they help us stay connected with other Christians? How do they help us achieve or maintain unity?
- In John 17, Jesus prays for the unity of believers. What links do you see between that passage and this one?
- In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul lifts up a prayer for the church. How does this prayer align with his desire for unity in church?
LISTEN: Bind Us Together (youtube.com)
NEXT STEPS
- What barriers can you identify that threaten the connection among Christians and how can they be overcome?
- Out of “humility,” “gentleness,” and “patience,” which do you find the most challenging when it comes to staying bearing with others, and why?
- Without naming names, think of someone in your congregation or in your life that you do not feel at one with. Commit to praying for that person this week. What one thing will you do to connect with that person in a positive way?
PRAY
Creator God, we come to you today, asking for the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit that unites us in the name of Jesus. Center our lives, O Lord. Through our vespers, deepen our connections with You, one another, our community and with all the world. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.