I will do my part
A young lady gave a beautiful lesson on unity today at church. Many thoughts passed through my mind. I want to record some of these thoughts.
When I think of unity, I immediately think of a beautifully woven tapestry.
Each of us is a piece of yarn or string beautifully intertwined with those around us. Together, we combine to make a beautiful work suitable for admiration and deserving of awe. Each piece of yarn or string is important to the intricate detail of the work. Each is a color or texture without which the work would not be complete. We are chosen by the master for a specific role and placed at a specific time.
If even one piece of yarn is pulled out completely, or even just snagged or pulled, it taints the entire work. As one piece is pulled, it pulls on the others often displacing the nearby or interwoven strings as well. If many strings were pulled, the piece would be left with holes and gaps. If a great number were pulled, the tapestry will come apart completely. Each piece of yarn is significant to maintaining the integrity of the entire work. All it takes is for one piece to be removed.
As individual pieces of yarn in life's tapestry, we play a critical role. If we allow someone to tug at us, if we allow a part of life snag us, if we allow ourselves to be completely removed from the tapestry, we permanently change the beauty that is life. Our actions, no matter how small, affect the whole. We may think that what we do will not hurt anyone else, but as we allow ourselves to be tugged and pulled, we often bring with us those that are closest to us. Whether they follow our actions or attempt to fight them, our actions still displace them.
We must hold strong and allow our role, our beauty, to add to the tapestry of life.
Another thought that came to mind was a memory from my late teenage years. I had the opportunity to participate in a Pioneer Trek when I was almost 19. The youth of my stake gathered together with some of our leaders to spend a few days as the pioneers had as they crossed the plains. We were arranged into families and carted our supplies across miles of dirt road camping along the way. It was challenging but no where near as difficult as spending day after day in similar activity, crossing unfamiliar land in search of a new home.
Each family pulled their belongings including a portion of the food supply in handcarts.
We took turns pulling the handcart with at least three people pulling the cart at one time. We had one person stationed on either side and one person placed in the middle. Each had to share the load. There was one point of the trek that was particularly difficult. Each member of our family took hold of the wooden bar up front and pulled with all our might. There was one boy who had proven to be very strong and very stubborn and opted to take the left side alone. We tried to shuffle someone over to the left side to help, but he insisted he do it alone. As we each gave our all, we found that we were veering to the left. Despite his strength, he couldn't balance our force. This occurred several times, resulting in quite a bit of wasted energy as we had to stop to reposition the cart in order to move forward. He couldn't bare the load alone. Had we continued this action, he would have soon fatigued which would have left us pushing with all our might only to find that we were going in circles. All forward movement could have ceased despite our constant exertion.
We took time out to balance the load. We only needed to shift slightly, aiding the boy on the left just a little to straighten our exertion. We each took what we could bare and made it through this very difficult part. We rejoiced in our success and took a much needed break.
"Put your shoulder to the wheel, push along. Do your duty with a heart full of song. We all have work; let no one shirk. Put your shoulder to the wheel."
There was much to learn from this experience. First, we all have a responsibility to one another. We should put forth great effort so that together we can accomplish many great things and make forward strides. If one person fails to perform, then the whole group suffers. We get caught running in circles. Our great effort is misguided, we are exhausted, but we have no reward. We are in the exact same place. Little or no progression results when the effort of one is not enough.
We also need to be aware of those around us who appear to be strong enough, who may even say they are strong enough. We need to shift our loads and bear what we can bare. When we are united, we can make it through the difficult times where we can rejoice and rest up for the next part.
When I think of unity, I immediately think of a beautifully woven tapestry.
Each of us is a piece of yarn or string beautifully intertwined with those around us. Together, we combine to make a beautiful work suitable for admiration and deserving of awe. Each piece of yarn or string is important to the intricate detail of the work. Each is a color or texture without which the work would not be complete. We are chosen by the master for a specific role and placed at a specific time.If even one piece of yarn is pulled out completely, or even just snagged or pulled, it taints the entire work. As one piece is pulled, it pulls on the others often displacing the nearby or interwoven strings as well. If many strings were pulled, the piece would be left with holes and gaps. If a great number were pulled, the tapestry will come apart completely. Each piece of yarn is significant to maintaining the integrity of the entire work. All it takes is for one piece to be removed.
As individual pieces of yarn in life's tapestry, we play a critical role. If we allow someone to tug at us, if we allow a part of life snag us, if we allow ourselves to be completely removed from the tapestry, we permanently change the beauty that is life. Our actions, no matter how small, affect the whole. We may think that what we do will not hurt anyone else, but as we allow ourselves to be tugged and pulled, we often bring with us those that are closest to us. Whether they follow our actions or attempt to fight them, our actions still displace them.
We must hold strong and allow our role, our beauty, to add to the tapestry of life.
Another thought that came to mind was a memory from my late teenage years. I had the opportunity to participate in a Pioneer Trek when I was almost 19. The youth of my stake gathered together with some of our leaders to spend a few days as the pioneers had as they crossed the plains. We were arranged into families and carted our supplies across miles of dirt road camping along the way. It was challenging but no where near as difficult as spending day after day in similar activity, crossing unfamiliar land in search of a new home.
Each family pulled their belongings including a portion of the food supply in handcarts.
We took turns pulling the handcart with at least three people pulling the cart at one time. We had one person stationed on either side and one person placed in the middle. Each had to share the load. There was one point of the trek that was particularly difficult. Each member of our family took hold of the wooden bar up front and pulled with all our might. There was one boy who had proven to be very strong and very stubborn and opted to take the left side alone. We tried to shuffle someone over to the left side to help, but he insisted he do it alone. As we each gave our all, we found that we were veering to the left. Despite his strength, he couldn't balance our force. This occurred several times, resulting in quite a bit of wasted energy as we had to stop to reposition the cart in order to move forward. He couldn't bare the load alone. Had we continued this action, he would have soon fatigued which would have left us pushing with all our might only to find that we were going in circles. All forward movement could have ceased despite our constant exertion.We took time out to balance the load. We only needed to shift slightly, aiding the boy on the left just a little to straighten our exertion. We each took what we could bare and made it through this very difficult part. We rejoiced in our success and took a much needed break.
"Put your shoulder to the wheel, push along. Do your duty with a heart full of song. We all have work; let no one shirk. Put your shoulder to the wheel."
There was much to learn from this experience. First, we all have a responsibility to one another. We should put forth great effort so that together we can accomplish many great things and make forward strides. If one person fails to perform, then the whole group suffers. We get caught running in circles. Our great effort is misguided, we are exhausted, but we have no reward. We are in the exact same place. Little or no progression results when the effort of one is not enough.
We also need to be aware of those around us who appear to be strong enough, who may even say they are strong enough. We need to shift our loads and bear what we can bare. When we are united, we can make it through the difficult times where we can rejoice and rest up for the next part.
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