One

Unity - what an elusive word. I've been part of teams with great potential, that were never unified but a group of individual stars. All star teams rarely win world championships. Unity means being one, despite differences. Not that we don't have a whole lot of individual differences, but that we are one, united, and our differences showcase the whole, not the individual.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of
your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is
over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:4-7

Diversity in Unity. Each of us is different: abilities, talents, dreams, but the same destiny in Christ. Christ is One, unified with the Father and Spirit, and His body is one... hmmm... does it look that way? Is His body one? What do we do that communicates "one"?

Unity in calling. Ephesians 4 is about walking - walking - in the calling. The call should be anchored in our minds, like the minor league played called up to the big show. That call is anchored. In Christ it is a call to God, to change our minds and actions, and a call to belong. The call means we belong with Christ - not my lifestyle, not my good deeds, but the call to me from Christ. It is again, all founded, based, laid on Christ.

the walk of the call(ed)

o.k. this has been a tremendous week. We welcomed our 2nd child, and 1st girl into our family. How exciting! Mia arrived with joy last week and everything's kind of crazy at home. Both kids need attention and when the whining starts, the patience stops. But, not always.

therefore i, the prisioner of the Lord, implore you to
walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called - with all
humility and gentleness, and patience, showing tolerance for one another in love
(ephesians 4:1-2).

Wow! Talk about a wake up call. The call to follow is not a call to think selfishly - it is a call to think of others. How do you follow without thinking of someone else? But a bigger question, and what I am still grappling with is this: I have a great call, from the great, awesome God. What walk is worthy of Him? What walk is worshipful and glorious and awesome and humble and patient and tolerant all at the same time? It's not the walk of the snubbed nosed, "I'm better than you" elitist, nor is it the walk of the foolish. It is a walk sold out to Christ. Willing to love the un-lovable, do the impossible, and care for the careless. It is powered by a new heart that, though different, is not exclusive, but rather beats in love for others to join the walk - a kind of follow the leader. THE leader.

every generation

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. [Ephesians 3:20-21]

To every generation? Being Christian is being part of a river of history, flowing through every generation. It is a river of people who love God - not an idea of God or something about God or a religion; but God. The God. Being in the river means going with the flow and spreading love for God everywhere we splash - and all for Him. The river is His, not mine. He determines its course, not me. He determines its flow, the obstacles, the falls, and the quite pools, not me. My job is to flow - to follow. Why? to Him be glory.