I remember realizing in Gulu that something I might find dangerous, or even deadly, isn’t necessarily the case for someone else. But due to that being someone else’s “normal,” they may not know to inform me of its risk. The more I read about Northern Uganda, the more I see listings of Gulu, Kitcum, Pades and Sorotie being the worst and most dangerous areas in the entire country—and these are the exact districts we visited. Had I known these gross dangers, I likely wouldn’t have gone. I wouldn’t have gone “home” with Mama Grace and Mama Santa, for fear that doing so might inhibit me from ever again seeing mine. This challenges my view of unity though. How can we move toward a harmony of sorts when we aren’t able, willing, or unafraid enough to partake in one’s “normal,” “home,” or heritage, let alone even decipher what those meanings are?

The orphanage I work at is directed by an American, staffed by Ugandans and voluntarily-staffed by folks from around the world. As you can imagine, this causes a few rifts. Topics run the gamut, from opinions regarding throw-away diapers vs. cloth ones, prayer, rearing techniques, worldview, type of skin, hair, or body odor, nutritional beliefs, etc. Today we had a staff meeting and were told we needed to “dress the kids to look less like orphans.” The translation here is that Ugandan style doesn’t pay much attention to matching as we know it (like pink stripes are intentionally put with red polka-dots…to ‘them’ that’s “matching”) and from now on we are to dress them so they “match.” I realized in this meeting there’s a massive difference between an American orphanage in Uganda, versus a Ugandan orphanage run by Americans. And again, I was caused to wonder whether unity here is possible? Or worth it?

I was separating oil in a “g” (ground)-nut-butter jar this afternoon (mix between soy and peanut) and got a little closer to my theory. Oil will not separate unless you help it, and even when you do, its chemical make-up won’t allow it to stay. With causations too many to count, differences do not mix naturally. And again, even when mixed, they will unmix. Similarly, I think, man cannot stay unified no matter how hard we try. We are too complex. Too unbalanced. And too unique. And I think that’s okay. It just means the reality of “unifying” is a lot bigger commitment than an event, bracelet, or evening to raise money for awareness. Like a lifelong one. The challenging part, I guess, is realizing the commitment isn’t easy and it will never be done. The jar always has space for stirring—in a marriage, friendship, work, church, or playground. Heck, we can’t even help that our own flesh and spirit will fight with themselves to the grave. If we can’t unify our own personhood, what can we? And is this can we worth it? It seems too tiresome to keep asking your way, and then humbly ask your ear to share mine. Or too risky to enter your world, and then knowingly invite you to interrupt mine…each knowing full well that a “next stir” will be just around the corner.

I don’t know if it’s worth it. I’ve seen glimpses at times, in a relationship here, or a Church Body there, and these are no less than miraculous. But they seem so few and far between. And even those betweens take such sacrifice and work. Most parts of unity feel like infinity today. And I think they are. Apart from Christ, I think they are impossible. In a tender conversation with his Father, Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given me, because they belong to You. And all of them, since they are mine, belong to You; and You have given them back to me, so they are my glory! Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to You. Holy Father, keep them and care for them—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are” (John 17.11). This is an astounding correspondence, of which I have the slightest understanding of its meaning. I guess the part I am understanding is that as infinite as it seems, and maybe ‘is’ for my limited mind to comprehend, God prioritizes unity. Possibly more so than anything else in heaven or on earth. And I’m finding the Trinity to be my most tangible (and unfathomable) proof.

(It’s too timely, and boring for some, but if anyone finds interest in a few related references, here you go. Bottom line, God is clearly into unity. Romans 12.9-16…. unity includes bearing one another’s joys and burdens, 1 Corinthians 1.10…believers must seek unity in all essentials, Ephesians 4.3-13…there can be great unity even among diversity, Philippians 1.3-11…the love Christ commanded should create unity among believers, Philippians2.1-2…unity ought to be a distinctive mark among Christians.)