I have often mused on the idea of balance, finding equilibrium, managing the flow of change between complementary opposites.
Everything that exists is in flux: constant movement, constant change. As night reaches its darkest, so the day begins. The child on the swing in the playground reachers her highest, only to return to the lowest again. Though we have experienced a record-breaking hot summer, just this week I have noticed a change in the wind. We now have a hint of Autumn cool. We have moved into the Celtic season of Lammas. That all phenomena have complementary opposites in tension and change is helpful to me. To find balance in the midst of the change is an important skill to learn. One such pair of complementary opposites is unity and diversity.In one of his letters, St. Paul uses the analogy of a body to explain the principle. "Take a look at your body," he suggests. "It is clearly one, yet your body has so many diverse aspects." To focus merely on the unity of the body would miss the great variety. To concentrate on the diversity of aspects would be to miss the essential oneness.
For the last 15 years or so, I have been studying the ancient Chinese art of qigong—energy work—and the interconnection of mind-body-spirit. The human body is its many aspects is complex, diverse, truly wonderful in its variegation. Yet, it maintains its essential unity. As one part moves, the whole body moves. Energy flow in the little finger of my left hand affects the energy flow throughout my whole body, taught ancient sages.
The complementary pair of unity/diversity is helpful in so many areas of human relationships. We are all in this together, yet we each bring something different to the whole. I think about my place of work with my colleagues, about the members of my family, about my spiritual community and each is one yet diverse. I want to celebrate the oneness and take comfort with the diversity. We're out of balance when we want to make everyone the same. We would lose so much if all shared the same passions, had the same understanding, or pursued the exact same interests.
In the Lindisfarne Community one of our sayings is that "all truth is G*d's truth." Truth is one. Yet it has so much variety. We have been pleased to welcome into our little spiritual home folk who bring with them a love of truth from many different traditions. Such variety is very enriching. We have become comfortable with the differences without wanting everyone to be the same. We try, also, to give space for change for no one is static in their spiritual journey.
Many years ago we had a wonderful experience enjoying diversity at our local Indian restaurant. It was Easter Sunday, and, unknown to us at the time, it happened to be the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The restaurant owners are Sikhs. Guru Nanak's birthday is known as prakash, the dawning of spiritual illumination. We arrived at the restaurant to find the place more than usually packed, with many folk in elaborate and colorful Indian dress. We were welcomed with open arms, wished a Happy Easter and told we could eat as much as we wanted for free. "But, we're not Sikh's," we said. "Doesn't matter. We are all celebrating together. You are more than welcome." That day we enjoyed perhaps the best Indian meal ever, with the best company imaginable.
When St. Paul talked about the human body in its essential unity and diversity, he concluded by saying, "So it is with Christ." By the time St. Paul wrote these words "Christ" already meant far more than the historical Jesus who lived in Palestine. Theologians have called this development the "Cosmic Christ." The Cosmic Christ is the way G*d pervades all of creation. In another place St. Paul says this Christ "fills all in all." The Cosmic Christ is the great unifier of all that is.
As we enjoyed our Indian meal celebrating both Easter and Prakash there was an example of "the body is one, yet has many members." There was an example of the oneness of all that is in its rich diversity.
+Ab. Andy
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