It's a Small World, or Is It?

Other than the catchy and sometimes mind-numbingly annoying song of the same name - it seems that each day we have examples how amazing small and large our earth is - at the same time!

We know someone who is related to someone that knows someone we know... our response, 'What a small world!'

We watch the evening news and see thousands of people suffering in conditions which we can't even imagine let alone picture ourselves living in... the two worlds couldn't be further apart.

A juxtaposition that stands out in my mind of the contrast of wealth and poverty came on a trip to Honduras in 1990.

The group I was traveling with as a member of the media was booked in a nice hotel in the country's capital.  It came complete with a wonderful restaurant, casino, and showplace.  But when I opened the shades on my room's window, there less than a quarter-mile away was a hillside covered with make-shift corrugated metal shacks that were homes to thousands of people.

That was a small world - but that quarter-mile might as well have been a thousand miles for the gaping gulf between the folks on either side.

Ultimately, our world is a small one.  It's made of individuals, couples, families - who are trying to take care of their family and themselves to the best of their ability.  There are many differences between us, but many commonalities.

Of course, such trivial observations can't solve the on-going troubles in the Middle East or the issues caused by extremists of various stripes, but perhaps the leaders amongst us can use these things we each care about as a starting point in a healing conversation.

That sounds like something we should pray for today.