“Why can’t we get along?” A drama teacher once told me that a script with no conflict will never work. Whilst pessimistic, this theory may not be wrong…
Most human wars involve greed on at least one side. Smaller conflicts may focus on differences- which also affect BIG social attitude conflicts like racism and sexism. Friends can fall out over trivial things: listen to school kids talk if you doubt that! We need peacemakers and reconcilers desperately, especially in these days of extreme “sound bite” hate-politics.
Today these birds gave me hope. Usually, birds at a feeder argue and establish a literal pecking order. These three were content to share. It helped that the feeder was full- plenty to go round, and easy to access. So a female chaffinch (I think), a blue tit, and a goldfinch posed together in peace.
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, and ordains eternal life. - Psalm 133:1f (Message)
Psalm 133 starts with a celebration of unity, of togetherness. This is the gateway to blessing and harmony- the “anointing oil” here is symbolic of the Presence of the Spirit of the Lord, the grace and power of God.
Together. What a wonderful word that is- something worth working towards.
The Reflectionary 