“If you could turn
your arm into a kitchen utensil what would it become?”

This was a question I
was asked to kick off a book study at Bethany. The group was challenged to
think about what kitchen utensil they would turn their arm into, and that we
would discuss our answers when we met on Thursday. I found the subject to be a
little silly, and I did not expect to find any real significance in the answer.
So, I thought about the question for a mere second and decided to go with the
first utensil that popped into my mind. It was a whisk.

That was Monday. By
the time our class met on Thursday, this question came back to me at least a
dozen times. I could not let it go. Why was a whisk such a quick answer, and
why is that utensil invading my every thought this week? Surely this trivial
question does not have much meaning, and how important could a whisk really be
in my life?

As I continued to
think about my answer, I understood God was using this question to help me
convey a perspective about a subject I care deeply about. I am struggling with
this broken world, and the divisions and hatred I encounter every day, have
been taking a toll. I believe this is where the whisk comes in.

When we are preparing
a meal, there are many ingredients we can choose to put together. On their own,
some ingredients can be bitter, and some ingredients can be sweet. There are
some that may be bland, while others may be intense. But no matter how each
ingredient stands up on its’ own, when you take that whisk and mix them
together, they create something wonderful. Sometimes a few gentle turns of the
wrist is all it takes, but there are other times we must vigorously blend them
together to get that perfect balance.

It became a lesson
about unity, and God was using this question to help me in my struggles this
week. What if I could turn my arm into that whisk, throw all our differences
into a bowl, and mix them together to make something wonderful? What if I could
take those individual personalities and unlock the perfect amount of blending
needed to unite them, as one, under God?

We will encounter all
types of people in our short time here on Earth. Our journey will allow us to
meet some who are bitter and some who are sweet. We will find some to be bland
and others to be intense. But no matter the color, texture, belief, or
upbringing of those we encounter, we always have the chance to blend with them
and create something beautiful.

It is up to us to
unite. We can either allow those ingredients to stand alone, or we can pick up
that whisk and throw them together. And if you are unable to find a recipe that
blends that perfect creation, pick up your Bible and follow God’s messages. You
will find that forgiveness, acceptance, love, grace, thankfulness, and doing
the right thing are all the ingredients you need to create a dish of unity for
this world. All you need to do is pick up that whisk!