THINK THE SAME WAY
 
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.   Philippians 2:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
 
         For many years I played with the Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, a band that began at Bucks County Community College when Jerry Nowak taught there. Jerry’s name is well known in the band world. He wrote a great many original pieces and arrangements for wind band and taught conducting all over this country and Australia. One of the things Jerry taught us was ensemble phrasing. That had to do with how we played – dynamic shading, phrasing, even the playing of individual notes and how they were emphasized. If all this sounds like a foreign language to you, maybe a quote from Jerry would help. He often said, “We have to think the same way.” Jack Barr, who played with the group for a few years and then returned for concerts used to tell me how much of a difference that made to the way the music sounds.    
 
         Paul’s admonishment in the letter to the Philippians makes it clear that he feels the same way. Thinking the same way may not mean that we agree on everything. For sure there have been plenty of different opinions when it comes from everything from food to politics, but does that contradict the ideas in the passage above? I don’t think so. 
 
         When Jerry told the musicians that we had to think the same way it had to do with how we interpreted the notes on the page in front of us. We had to use our instruments to produce a sound that would be played in a way that would produce a complete performance. It didn’t mean that we all agreed on everything to do a good job on that music.                 
         
         As Christians we have a mission to spread the love of Christ to those around us. Later in that same passage from Philippians, Paul says, 5 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” He speaks earlier of “having the same love,” something we may have to work at, but I believe it should be our ultimate goal. Remember when we used to wear “WWJD” on T-shirts and bracelets. It meant “What would Jesus Do?” If we asked that question of ourselves before every action we take, I wonder what the world would look like.

Dear Lord, help me to think about the way you would respond to every act and thought I have. Help your church to think the same way as we move forward in our mission to spread your love to everyone we meet. Thank you, Jesus, for your example and your guidance. Amen

                                                                     Sue Uzelmeier
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

St. John's Ivyland
820 Almshouse Road
Ivyland, PA 18974
215-357-6998
stjohnsivyland.com
Rev. Brad Leight, Pastor