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Lessons from Traveling: Lesson Two
By: Tom Norvell
Vol. 13 No. 36 | September 6, 2010
Traveling Lesson #2: Every Community Is Unique
From West Texas to the streets of New York City...and several points in between...every community is unique.
Our neighborhood is a small sub-division made up of mostly middle-classed working folks. A few are probably a little above the middle and some are retired. As a general rule, at least one person from each household gets up and goes to work every day. Lawns are maintained. Junk cars not parked in the driveways or on the street. It is typically quiet. The loudest noises come from the Music City Star and the garbage trucks as they make their regular stops. Our neighbors tend to keep to themselves and disturbances are unusual (of course, there is “that one house” up the street). Although we mind our own business we stand ready to help one another when needed.
Our daughter lives in a house with two other college women, in a neighborhood full of college students, in a college town, with a college town atmosphere. My sister and her husband live in the same town (or a few miles outside of town) where we all grew up. They are really good people, who have worked hard to have what they have, always ready to help friends and family with their burdens, and are grateful that life is fairly slow, easy, and somewhat predictable. My oldest brother recently retired and moved “to the country.” They are remodeling (perhaps building would be the better choice of words) the house in semi-rural community where neighbors do their own thing but take time to visit and lend a helping hand when needed. Our son and his wife live in Brooklyn, New York. They love the city, are active in trying to spread God’s love with co-workers and friends, and have embraced ways of life in the big city.
It was one of those walks through the streets of New York City that sparked the idea for this article.
On two occasions we had lunch in Manhattan and began walking. One day we walked south. One day we walked north. Both were unusually leisurely walks. We walked a couple of hours in both directions. As we I could not ignore the diversity of communities. We navigated the busy hustle and bustle of Manhattan. We passed high-dollar residential buildings, 
expensive restaurants, department stores, and the theaters. We walked through a park. The hustle and bustle calmed down as we moved in to blue-collar areas. Graffiti decorated walls, signs, and storefronts. We visited a cathedral and one of the most distinguished universities in the world. We smelled the aromas coming from street vendor hot dogs, bakeries, grocery stores and flower shops. Every community is unique.
Though every community is different and distinct from others, all have one thing in common: they are all part of one city. The common thread that binds the city communities with the suburbs and the country towns to metropolis is that each one claims citizenship of one nation. It is that union that we cherish as our heritage. In our Pledge of Allegiance we proudly proclaim we are “One nation under God.” Because of that tie that binds we can respect one another’s differences and travel freely from community to community.
Within the Kingdom of God we have unique communities. We have churches that are considered “mega” and we have churches that meet in living rooms. We have churches that minister to single ethnic groups, and we have churches that are multi-ethnic and multi-cultural. We have churches that are bound to unalterable traditions and we have churches that are determined to destroy all tradition. We have “high” churches and we have churches that would not know where to put a liturgy if someone gave it to them. One thing binds us all together and assures us that we are part of the Kingdom of God.
The truth that keeps us together is what Paul described as of “first importance” in 1 Corinthians 15:
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of who are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1-7, NIV)
Neighborhoods, communities, and cities unite under our state and national flags. We live and work together in peace and harmony because we remember our common citizenship.
Christians unite under the cross. Every spiritual community is unique. The desire to be like Jesus Christ brings us together. As long as we focus on being transformed into the image of Jesus we can work and live in harmony with one another. Jesus Christ is the chord that binds us together.
[By the way, I'm sending this from a McDonald's in Jonesboro, Arkansas. When I was in college I ate here often because I could get 2 Big Macs for $1. Today I came because a cup of coffee only costs me $.64, and they have free WiFi. Every community is unique.]
Tom
© Copyright 2010 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.