Psalm 133

How very good and pleasant it is
    when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
    life forevermore.

Granma camp is in full swing this week on North Everton Avenue in Parkville, Missouri. During this last week of summer break lots of fun activities are happening – card games, outside play with neighbors, reading time, baking, a three-hour session at the entertainment center. Some less fun things happen too – jobs each day, arguing with the sib or the neighbor, saying goodbye to Dad and Mom each morning. It is a wild and unpredictable week. 

Each of the people who live in this house, and even the Granma overseeing the camp, look very similar to one another. They are kindred, family. For the most part they exist well together and live in unity, honoring God’s purpose and intention for all of God’s creation. Who is kindred like this for you? In what ways do you echo God’s love and encouragement for each other? 

Besides those with whom we live as family each of us has other kindred. Maybe the family next door or the lonely widow in the next block can become part of our kin. How can we show love to the mentally ill young man who walks up and down the block every single day? What can you learn from the bigger kid with a different skin color in your son’s new classroom? Your granddaughter might have a friend who smells really unpleasant and brings only half a sandwich for lunch each day. Is she the one who most needs to be included within the arms of family? 

  In what way is our family made richer by those from Cameroon or Mali or Ukraine who live in our town or who worship with us? We receive and grow as we become acquainted with those who identify using different personal pronouns than we do. All of these folk help is to more deeply understand ourselves and the world God has created. It becomes clear that we can live in unity, together as one. 

When life is lived in unity it does not mean we all agree, think alike, and never have tiffs. It does mean we communicate with kindness, using dialog rather than verbal or physical attacks. thus growing together in depth of understanding. It also means we demonstrate to the world a way of peace and love that just might help the world come closer to living out God’s intention, becoming a place, like Mount Hermon covered with dew, of indescribable beauty, the true family of our magnificent creator. 
 

-- Dianne Tombaugh
Retired elder

Prayer for Reflection

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
1 Kings 19:9-18
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33