CHRISTIAN COMMENT: Togetherness
LET me tell you the story of a friend of mine who worked for many years in the Amazon jungle.
He, his wife and children lived amongst the Canela tribe, translating their language so that it could be written down and so be relevant in modern times.
It also gave the people the chance to have the Bible, the word of God, written in their own "heart language".
This is what happened to him.
"Quick, it's starting," my friend's adopted mother said.
"No time to lose. Come quickly."
A few minutes later they joined their tribal family group at the edge of the central space in the village.
There were about 100 of them, standing in that part of the circle nearest their family homes.
The other seven groups of villagers did the same, each group spaced round the circle, each closest to their respective family houses.
Then each family began to sing its own family song, singing lustily, keeping together.
But when my friend stepped away from his group, the total effect was awful, a disaster - Disharmony! Discord! Dissonance!
Suddenly the village song leader walked into the centre.
Shaking his rattle he stepped up to one of the groups and started singing a different song.
The group stopped singing its own song and sang the leader's song.
In this way he went from group to group, teaching each one his own song.
Finally all the groups were singing the new song together.
What a difference.
Beautiful harmony, perfect rhythm and singers with smiling, happy faces.
"Okay, it's done. Let's go," said my friend's "mother" tugging at his arm.
Each group marched back to its own group of palm-thatched houses, still singing in unity.
Then came the explanations.
The tribe as it was today was the remnant of seven related, but distinct, groups.
Because of attacks from enemies and epidemics their existence had been threatened, so they had come together many seasons ago.
They bought their own customs, dialects and songs that they still remembered, even though they had been living together for generations.
"This song ceremony reminds us that we started different from each other but have learned to work together," the mother continued.
"Together we can do things that no single group could possibly do alone.
"That is why the village is now large and growing.
"We feel safe in our strength, and with large gardens we don't suffer hunger any more."
What can we learn from those "primitive" tribals in the Brazilian jungle?
The groups stopped singing their own song and learned a new one.
What they were didn't change.
But what they did changed.
Let us learn to be the individuals we are made to be but let us learn to work together in harmony.
Politicians should put aside their party labels and work together for "our village".
Ethnic groups should put aside their cultural habits and work together for "our village".
Churches should put aside denominational shibboleths and work in harmony.
Just before the first Easter, Jesus prayed that his father would protect his followers so that they might be one.
What are you doing to promote one-ness in your community and your church?
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
