For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
(Ephesians 2.14
NRSV)
Somebody always has to take the first step. A play titled, "Construction" opens with a group of people gathered in an other worldly kind of place. The actors do not know where they are, or how they got there, or more importantly what they are supposed to do. There is dialogue between the people discussing their current situation. "Where are we?" someone says. "Why are we in this place?" another person asks. Still, another asks, "What is our purpose here? What are we supposed to do?"
In the midst of all those unanswered questions one of the actors notices some building materials. They conclude that they were brought to that particular place to build something. But no one knows what. One of them wants to build a swimming pool. Another wants to build a clubhouse.
Just then someone observes, "We are not alone here. Other people are around." They pause to hear the sounds of other people off in the distance. "We don't know who these others are or what they are like or what they are up to," one of them says with panic in her voice, "and we can't afford to take a chance. It's too risky." The group decides that they need a wall to protect themselves from other, unknown people. As they discuss the idea of building a wall to protect themselves, they become more frightened. With urgency they begin to build a formidable barrier!
After they have worked on their wall for some time, they look up one day to see a stranger headed their way. The stranger tells them that he is a builder. The stranger has in his possession the blueprints that will show them what they are supposed to build with the materials provided. The stranger tells them they have it all wrong. They are not supposed to build a wall around themselves. What they are supposed to build is a bridge--a bridge to bring people together, not a wall to shut them out.
There are times when we have to climb the wall. There are times we need to build a bridge. There are times when we need to take the first step.
Lord Jesus, help me build up your community. Amen.