Becoming One in the Everyday Moments

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Becoming One in the Everyday Moments

Introduction

Some lessons from Father God arrive quietly — not in a sermon, not in a study, but in the ordinary moments of life. Today’s reflection came to me while standing in my yard, looking at fallen branches and thinking about what it means to live as One in Father God’s kingdom.

Scripture

John 17:20-21   New International Version

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Reflection

Being in Father God’s kingdom — the place where we all become One — has been on my mind again. It came to me this morning while doing some yard work.

My wife and I moved to our current home in February of 2025 to be closer to one of our daughters and her family. We’re both reaching that stage of life where some things are harder than they used to be. Recently, storms came through and knocked down some large branches. I’m still recovering from lower‑back surgery, so I kept wondering what to do about them.

Part of me hoped someone in the neighborhood might notice and offer help. But that didn’t happen. People today tend to stay inside. The neighbors we’ve met are kind and have said, “If you ever need anything, just ask.” But for some reason, that has always felt like a formality to me. I never want to bother anyone, so I don’t ask.

So there I was, two days ago, out in the yard cutting up the limbs myself. I got most of it done, but then came the pile of debris. What now?

This morning, our lawn guys showed up. One of them — a kind Hispanic gentleman — saw me working and told me to stop. “We’ll take care of that,” he said. And they did. They even hauled the debris away. I gave them extra money this time, but that brought up another dilemma I’m still learning to navigate:

When someone helps me, how do I know what’s fair? I don’t want to underpay, but I also don’t want to offend. I’ve spent most of my life doing things myself, so this is new territory.

Connection to Today

All of this made me think again about Father God’s kingdom.

If my neighborhood were living fully in His kingdom — if we were truly One — I don’t think I would be wrestling with these questions. Things would simply happen. We would see each other. We would help each other. We would share what we have, just like the Acts church did.

But life today looks very different from life 2,000 years ago. People are busy, isolated, cautious, unsure. And yet the longing for unity, for community, for shared life — it’s still there.

I’ve always appreciated the Quaker way of gathering. Their Meetings feel like the closest expression of becoming One: quiet, humble, Spirit‑led, centered on listening rather than performing. I’ve been thinking about starting a Meeting in my neighborhood, but I’m not sure how to begin.

Still, I believe that when the time is right — in Father God’s timing — it will come together naturally. I just need to be patient and keep listening.

Prayer

Father God,
Teach us what it means to live as One in Your kingdom.
Open our eyes to the needs around us, and open our hearts to receive help when we need it.
Shape our neighborhoods, our homes, and our gatherings into places where Your Spirit moves freely.
Guide my steps as I seek to build community in Your timing, not mine.
Make us more like the Acts church — generous, connected, and united in Your love.
Amen.