My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” – Desmond Tutu
As I took a long look around the sports bar, the energy was palpable. The mass of humanity, adorned in red, white, and blue, had gathered not just for their favorite food and beverage, but to cheer on the USA soccer team in the World Cup.
As I looked more closely at the crowd, what fascinated me was its diversity. Looking through a very subjective lens, it wasn’t hard to imagine that these folks represented very different associations, affiliations, and affinity groups. Yet on this evening, there was an unmistakable unity and solidarity as we cheered for our soccer team.
It all made me wonder: when did divisiveness begin to rule the day? When did we begin to focus – even fixate – on our differences rather than our commonalities? It’s rather ironic, considering that the United States was born from the vision of diverse people and cultures coming together. In many ways, that unity amid diversity has been our greatest strength as a nation.
The United States’ participation in the World Cup, the Olympics, and even our shared response to national tragedies have all served as unifying moments. But does it really have to take an event of that scale or magnitude to bring us together?
What if each of us changed our mindset? What if we collectively decided not only to focus on but to actively seek out the things we have in common? Imagine if each of us became an intentional seeker of unity rather than someone who contributes to division.
The key – as it is in building any meaningful relationship – is to begin by listening to one another’s stories. We need to move away from uninformed assumptions and the habit of placing people into neatly labeled boxes. In my experience, whenever I take the time to hear someone’s story, I inevitably discover multiple points of connection. The old saying has been proven true time and again: we have far more in common than we often realize.
And it is that common ground that binds us together – much like a crowd of strangers in a sports bar, united in cheering for our team.
“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.” Psalm 133:1