(The following is a part of a two week series of obscure-relevant thoughts arising from the depths of my brain during our recent trip to Alaska.)
Alaska Trip – Day Five
Obscure/Relevance Topic: Â Difference
Today the word difference came to mind during my morning devotion and prayer.
Stephen Covey once said, “Strength is found in differences, not similarities.” Â I wish our world could get this figured out.
Our cruise ship community is comprised of 2500 people of different ages, from various countries, and with multiple skin colors. Â The diversity of my fellow cruise mates creates a rhythm I do not get to experience in my tiny village back in Covington, Ohio. Â There is rhythm in difference if we choose to allow ourselves to dance with it.
It is safe to surmise there are multiple religions being followed among our ship mates.  One religion in particular–“Jain,” has at least one thousand followers on board.  The Jains are VERY nice people…if you research the Jain religion you will find it is an ancient  Indian religion and focuses on conquering anger, greed, pride and attachment (addiction)…sounds like a great religion to me!
God has His way of converging all our differences in times where we are standing shoulder to shoulder observing in awe, the beauty of His work. Â I recall one of these moments in particular when an eagle was perched about twenty feet above us in a tree and all us, of which none of us knew each other, were assisting one another in order to see God’s majestic bird.
We all stand on common ground when we band together and view God’s work with esteem and awe and leave our opinions and selfish worldviews behind us.
Learning to dance with difference is a great way to experience God’s peace and beauty in the present…something our world sorely needs to begin doing.
Highlights of the day:
1. Being greeted by native Tlingit Indians as we disembarked on the shores of Hoonah. Â They were very excited to see us.
2. Whale watching off of Icy Strait Point…Orca whales came right beside our boat!
P.E.A.C.E.
1 Corinthians 12:4-8;  “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.† (ESV)
