Unity (Bot9 #202)
The first member of the Starting 9's outfield has to cover the most ground - the centerfielder. With a good centerfielder, the ground is defended appropriately. If your centerfielder lacks the necessary speed, the team's defense is in trouble. The same can be said for Unity. When a team possesses Unity, the team covers a lot of ground together. Without Unity, the team goes nowhere. Unity is the Starting 9's Centerfielder.
We seem to have a knack for seeking Unity in times of trial and difficulty. Even in times of extraordinary divisiveness, tragedy can thrust us back together. Take the picture above from the Congressional Baseball Game earlier this year, for example. In spite of all that's going on in the political landscape, the shooting that occurred during a practice leading up to the game seemed to remind everyone about the importance of Unity.
Do we need to wait until tragedy strikes to experience Unity?
Like so many piece of the Starting 9, Unity is a choice. It's not an easy choice, but it is a choice. As a baseball guy, I'm certainly biased, but I believe there is no picture of Unity more beautiful than that of a baseball team that comes together. It's the most individual of team sports - we do everything in isolation, but have to rely on a deep well of unity to survive. This community of unity on high-functioning baseball teams points us to what Christ desired for us as the body of believers.
In John 17: 22-23, Christ says, "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” Perfected in Unity. This was Christ's prayer and desire for us as those who believed in Him.
How are we doing with that? How's our team of Christ followers doing in this area now and throughout church history? Sometimes it feels like our unity as believers is about as dysfunctional as the 2011 Boston Red Sox, potentially the most dysfunctional team in MLB history.
As we take a moment to consider Unity, seek opportunity to display Unity in our faith, at home, and on our teams. Let us be one as the Trinity is one.