Our faith communities know when to rally as well. Faithful people replace or rebuild homes destroyed by fire and flood, provide bags of school supplies to children who need them and offer financial, emotional and spiritual support to families wounded by hardship and disease. They strive to be living signs of hope to the hopeless with their encouragement and their ongoing presence.

When we recognize a need so compelling that it reaches beyond our differences, when we come together to do that which needs to be done, amazing results are always achieved. There is something special, even sacred, about those times when we set aside our differences for the greater good. I believe that for at least that moment in time we catch a glimpse of what Jesus in his high priestly prayer of John 17:21 asked for his followers: “that they may all be one.”

Perhaps that is the reason for the joy we experience and the satisfaction we feel when “it’s rally time” and we step up to do our part, lend our hands and our hearts, and give our best. Just imagine what could be accomplished and how good we would feel if ‘rally time’ happened more often. Maybe it can.  Hopefully it will!

– Pastor Phillip Hurst, Tryon United Methodist Church