I like the idea of unity.

Looking out for the little guy. Being good for the sake of good.

Today I read the prose Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, by John Donne, and found it fascinating the way he describes the entire human race as one entity, responsible for each other.

I feel like being united is a skill, something that you can work at and become better at over time.

A true master of the art of unity can be found in one of my favorite heroes, Mother Teresa.

She exemplified unity by being easy to work with, gracious and insightful. Happily teaching while underpaid at a remote school for twenty years is not a commonplace task. When she saw the poverty, and misery surrounding her she took action against it. Living in less than an optimal circumstance to receive basic medical training that would be pivotal to help the poorest of poor.

Mother Teresa lived as a professor in the art of unity. When looking at the bigger picture, anything beyond yourself really, things fall into perspective.

It snowed a good 5-6 inches today and as my brother was tasked with shoveling our sidewalk I didn’t need to help him, but I did. And while I was outside I decided to shovel my neighbor’s sidewalk too.

This small act reemphasized in my mind the importance of community and fellow-feeling. So when you hear a bell toll, it does not stand for just you or me alone. We all stand together, therefore, the bell “tolls for thee.”