Are you watching the Olympics? Did you catch the Opening Ceremony?
One of the major things I noticed this year with the Olympics are the major themes of unity and peace amid diversity.
The Opening Ceremony contained the most diverse group we have seen in one ceremony. There was a diversity of ages- kids and the oldest living French Olympian (100 years old), nationalities, and abilities. Usually the torch rely includes people from the host country, but this year, people from other nations were involved in the final relay to the cauldron. There was also a diversity in music and entertainment.
As I have been watching the games, I have noticed how much encouragement and congratulations has come between one nation and another.
Throughout the diversity, there was a call for peace in the world. It is a fundamental principle in the Olympic Charter to build peace and a better world through sports.
IOC President, Thomas Bach, states, “The Olympic athletes show the whole world that it is possible to compete with each other, while living peacefully together. In this world of uncertainty that we are living in today, the Olympic Games are even more relevant than ever.”
What a wonderful reminder for us, as a church. One of our denominations, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) uses the phrase “unity in diversity.” It is a phrase that we live out in our community life. While we all believe that Jesus is the Christ, son of the Living God, we generally have a diversity of beliefs beyond that. However, we know that Christ unites us and so we work to be in relationship with one another, coming to the Table and serving our community, amid our diversity.
It is a message that says we can be in a relationship with people who are different than ourselves, we can respect and maybe even love them.
It’s a message and lesson our world so desperately needs to hear and learn.
How can we live this more fully and teach it to others?
