The Village ILWIDIot
Walt Wiltschek
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” —John 17:22, NIV
The number “one” has been popping up for me a lot lately, and not just because that’s the position in which I hope the Minnesota Twins will finish this year’s Major League Baseball standings.
First there was “One Life,” a movie about the Holocaust that I had wanted to see and finally caught just before it left theaters. It tells the story of Sir Nicholas “Nicky” Winton, a British businessman who saves the lives of hundreds of Jewish children in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II through a daring train rescue system he organizes with colleagues. It hit close to home, since my own family has roots in that community. The film’s title comes via a quote from Jewish wisdom:
“Save one life, save the world.”
Then there was “Bob Marley: One Love,” which tells the story of the Jamaican musician. Best known for his reggae-style music, the film delves deeper into topics I knew little about, sharing how Marley worked to bring peace to violence-torn Jamaica by connecting warring political factions. Among Marley’s quotes during his short life: “The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”
And, then, most recently, there was “The Boys in the Boat,” which I saw on the plane on the way home from a short trip to the Seattle area to see friends. Much of the film is set in Seattle, based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team that against all odds competed (and won) at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. It delves into the unique sport of rowing, which requires complete team coordination and trust in order to succeed. At the end of the film, the main character reflects back on his career as his grandson asks about being part of an eight-man rowing crew. “We were never eight,” he replies. “We were one.”
While mulling over all these numerical convergences, I happened to attend worship at the Yellow Creek congregation in Pearl City, where pastor Ellis Boughton was talking about prayer. What scripture should he highlight but John 17, where Jesus prays to God for his disciples with words including “that they may be one just as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity”(John 17:22b-23a, NIV).
The power of one. In these times of smaller churches and deep divisions, we are reminded that one dedicated person, one bold vision that inspires others, one team that works deeply together, one congregation of modern-day disciples that brings its gifts together to join whole-heartedly in God’s work in the world—one is enough. Or at least a very good beginning.
Brethren balladeer Andy Murray once sang, “One person at a time does it all.” And a group of people working as one can do even more. So, what’s No. 1 on your list this month?
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” —John 17:22, NIV
The number “one” has been popping up for me a lot lately, and not just because that’s the position in which I hope the Minnesota Twins will finish this year’s Major League Baseball standings.
First there was “One Life,” a movie about the Holocaust that I had wanted to see and finally caught just before it left theaters. It tells the story of Sir Nicholas “Nicky” Winton, a British businessman who saves the lives of hundreds of Jewish children in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II through a daring train rescue system he organizes with colleagues. It hit close to home, since my own family has roots in that community. The film’s title comes via a quote from Jewish wisdom:
“Save one life, save the world.”
Then there was “Bob Marley: One Love,” which tells the story of the Jamaican musician. Best known for his reggae-style music, the film delves deeper into topics I knew little about, sharing how Marley worked to bring peace to violence-torn Jamaica by connecting warring political factions. Among Marley’s quotes during his short life: “The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.”
And, then, most recently, there was “The Boys in the Boat,” which I saw on the plane on the way home from a short trip to the Seattle area to see friends. Much of the film is set in Seattle, based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team that against all odds competed (and won) at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. It delves into the unique sport of rowing, which requires complete team coordination and trust in order to succeed. At the end of the film, the main character reflects back on his career as his grandson asks about being part of an eight-man rowing crew. “We were never eight,” he replies. “We were one.”
While mulling over all these numerical convergences, I happened to attend worship at the Yellow Creek congregation in Pearl City, where pastor Ellis Boughton was talking about prayer. What scripture should he highlight but John 17, where Jesus prays to God for his disciples with words including “that they may be one just as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity”(John 17:22b-23a, NIV).
The power of one. In these times of smaller churches and deep divisions, we are reminded that one dedicated person, one bold vision that inspires others, one team that works deeply together, one congregation of modern-day disciples that brings its gifts together to join whole-heartedly in God’s work in the world—one is enough. Or at least a very good beginning.
Brethren balladeer Andy Murray once sang, “One person at a time does it all.” And a group of people working as one can do even more. So, what’s No. 1 on your list this month?
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