On the “Discovery Channel” last night, I watched an interview with Michael Collins, the third member of the Apollo 11 crew that landed the first man on the moon (the other two members, of course, being Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin). He shared many interesting reflections about that event, but one really stood out to me.
I am paraphrasing here, but Collins said, “The one thing that I really remember is how often people used the word ‘we’ when they talked to us. They did not say, ‘Wow, you Americans did it!’ Instead, they said, ‘Wow, we did it!’ There was no ‘us’ and ‘them’. The walls were gone. Everywhere we went, England, France, Spain, Mexico, people talked about what ‘we’ as human beings had accomplished. And I really enjoyed that!”
Collins went on to say that, unfortunately, the “we” attitude did not last very long. Soon, people were back to thinking about themselves, the walls went back up and life went back to “normal”.
I liked Collins’ picture of a world that was drawn together by a common event. Wouldn’t it be great if there were something today that could bring us together and give us something to live for that is bigger than ourselves?
The church is supposed to be that place.
Christ’s death is the big event that can break down the walls that separate us. In Christ, we are all equally important, valued and loved. The best part is that, in this case, we can be brought together, not just for a short time, but for all eternity.
If you are looking for a place where “we” is more important than “I”, a place of belonging, and a place of joy, have a look at God’s family.
The church is not perfect, but it is wonderful!
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28).
I am paraphrasing here, but Collins said, “The one thing that I really remember is how often people used the word ‘we’ when they talked to us. They did not say, ‘Wow, you Americans did it!’ Instead, they said, ‘Wow, we did it!’ There was no ‘us’ and ‘them’. The walls were gone. Everywhere we went, England, France, Spain, Mexico, people talked about what ‘we’ as human beings had accomplished. And I really enjoyed that!”
Collins went on to say that, unfortunately, the “we” attitude did not last very long. Soon, people were back to thinking about themselves, the walls went back up and life went back to “normal”.
I liked Collins’ picture of a world that was drawn together by a common event. Wouldn’t it be great if there were something today that could bring us together and give us something to live for that is bigger than ourselves?
The church is supposed to be that place.
Christ’s death is the big event that can break down the walls that separate us. In Christ, we are all equally important, valued and loved. The best part is that, in this case, we can be brought together, not just for a short time, but for all eternity.
If you are looking for a place where “we” is more important than “I”, a place of belonging, and a place of joy, have a look at God’s family.
The church is not perfect, but it is wonderful!
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28).
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