Bastian letter: Unity

Unity seems elusive and hard for Americans to achieve. Even though our founding fathers championed the concept of “one nation under God,” our body politic is in constant turmoil over such things as the Pledge of Allegiance, religious symbols in public places or offering prayer in a community setting.

Paul argued for “one faith, one lord and one baptism.” “Be ye equally yoked.” “Let there be no divisions among you.” But oneness seems to be an impossibility in our pluralistic society. Someone once said, “We will never get together if we all want the front of the bus, the back of the church and the middle of the road.”

We have become a highly divisive and dichotomous people. How much time do we spend in confessing other people’s sins, politicking, destroying other people’s reputations, second-guessing? Our public discourse is full of character assassinations, finger pointing and dirty politics. It’s hard for us to think Win/Win. (Stephen Covey)

Achieving oneness with our loved ones, friends, working associates and political opposites is one of the greatest virtues and blessings of mankind.

B.H. Roberts made this insightful thought: “In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, and in all things charity.”

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Bastian letter: Unity."