Monday Morning Manna: Unity in Diversity

The most amazing thing that I experienced on my recent cruise was something that didn’t happen. On board were 4500 passengers and 1500 crew. We represented 60 nations which included a diversity of ethnicity, language, religious preference, and lifestyles. For eight days we cruised together, ate together, shopped together, talked together, and greeted each other. I personally had conversations with new friends from Russia, Ukraine, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Jamaica, Korea, and India. To my knowledge, no one on board the ship argued, no one fought, no one protested, no one demonstrated. We got along. Some endured the differences, while others enjoyed them. There was a sense of unity, even with our diversity. One wonders why this can’t happen elsewhere. Why do we have to argue, fight, demonstrate, injure, kill? While our ship load of diversity was certainly not a representation of heaven, there was a bit of symbolism. Someday, the redeemed will gather from, “every tribe and tongue, and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). There we will experience eternal harmony. Until then, we’ll just have to keep wondering, and taking an occasional cruise.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.