Together we can move mountains

For as long as I can remember, I have had a job to do. As a child, my responsibility was drying the dishes after supper. I wish I had a proverbial nickel for every time I left the silverware untouched. Something about all those forks, spoons, and knives seemed too daunting.
As I grew, so did my duties of helping with the household chores. It was the same with my siblings.
We all had tasks to complete, and we all started by standing on an old wash pot at the draining board. I remember thinking how unfair it was to have so many everyday jobs; however, now I understand the reason behind the unfairness. Our parents were teaching us what it meant to be a family. All of us were an essential part of a team that kept us moving like a well-oiled machine. Our duties taught us responsibility, to pull our weight, and to be team players.
As a team, we worked together, encouraging each other to do our best. When the work was done, we discovered time for outside activities, board games, or other forms of entertainment. Through the years, we have grown and moved on with new responsibilities. We have faced mountains and obstacles with that foundation of oneness. We have accomplished many things because we have shouldered life together.
What would our world look like if we realized how unity promotes growth? There was a time in the history of humanity when people walked in unity, speaking one language. They began to build a great city with a tower to reach the heavens. The Lord said nothing was impossible for the people because they were of one voice (Genesis 11:1-9). Today, If we spoke the language of togetherness, we could drastically change our world.
Helen Keller’s statement, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much,” holds a lot of truth. Consider this: what would happen if our churches spoke one language today? What if we genuinely became our Lord’s head, hands, and feet, walking a path of faith in unity? What if we were the Body of Christ, seeing each other in the image of God? We would begin to see hearts changed and brokenness healed.
Christ makes everything possible as we unite as one in Him. Together, we are as strong as the three cord strands woven as one. We are not easily broken. When two or more are working, we will find a greater return on our labor. When trouble comes our way, we can lift each other up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Jesus knew the power of two or more joined together in ministry. Jesus sent the disciples forth in ministry in pairs for two reasons: first, they would have a witness to the work they were doing, and second, they could encourage each other in ministry. Jesus told them to take nothing for their journey except their staff. All they needed for success was their faith and each other (Mark 6:7-13).
When I was a child standing on the wash pot, my sister knew how to make me successful. She washed the silverware first to get “the daunting” out of the way. Truthfully, life is full of overwhelming, daunting tasks, mountains we cannot move alone. As children of God, we are encouraged to reach out to each other for help or to be a help. Together, the mountains can and will move.
Psalm 133:1&3b How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! For there, the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.