I watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony tonight. I always love the excitement
of the opening ceremonies: so much to see, enjoy, and learn about the host
country and all of the countries represented.
Tonight I was taken by the colorful costumes of so many of
the countries, and the traditional dress and flags of each country. As I
looked around the arena, I saw so much diversity, so many peoples, so many
heritages, all come together as one world, to celebrate and unify.
Does the amount of diversity and difference in the world
ever strike you? Each country, culture, language, family and person is so
totally unique. What could be the joining factor among us all? Our planet, for
one. Some of us share a language; others share a continent of a political
ideal. A few of us share a religion. But what, aside from our humanity unites
us?
That’s just it though: our humanity. We can all unite and
admit that we are human. What makes us human, though, is our Creator: God.
I know, not everyone reading this (or those I imagine might
read this, if my words were better spread) agree on God, if He is there, or who
or what He is. I, for one, believe, no, exist
in Him. And I see in our Olympic games, in our diversity, in our Humanity, I
see a reflection and an image of Him.
Let’s go with this idea for a minute, and act as if we all
follow my train of thought, as if this were a world created by a God. This God,
well, he is all about love. Is love something that a unified humanity projects?
I believe it is.
I saw love in the Opening Ceremony, people joined together
across a city, a nation, and the world, for one event.
I saw love as each constituency walked by, proudly waving
their flags for their homes, their people, their families.
I saw love, as those dressed in white, advocates for peace,
carried the Olympic flag to the Tor.
And I saw love, as nations joined together in a ceremony of
peace.
Isn’t it amazing that love can do that? Could love do that
if it were a human creation, something that randomly happened among people?
Would people work for it, achieve great things, if it were something we could
make up? Love is, well, LOVE because it is greater than us in our humanity.
Love is of God.
God created each and every one of those people at the
ceremony tonight. He planned their cultures, knew their futures and their plans
(even that they would be at the games!) before they were born.
When I see diversity, I see God, because He isn’t some
static being who lives in a whitewashed church room. God is the God of
diversity, who has every culture, every nation, everything within Him. Could we
have all this diversity if He were now diverse Himself? There is "one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."(Ephesians 4:6 NLT)
In my travels and experiences with people from around the
world I have seen this to be true. From Oklahoma to China, Mexico to Australia,
New York to Japan, we are all very different, but our Creator unites us in
Himself. He is beyond understanding or explaining, and He is love.
Enjoy the Olympics. I know I will.
{Amen}
