Last night, the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony was televised. North Korean and South Korean athletes entered the stadium sharing the stage under a united Korean flag. Leaders of both North and South Korea, as well as America's Vice President Mike Pence, sat together and shared in the moment together.
How can this be? Only weeks ago, North and South Korea were preparing for the likelihood of war with North Korea testing nuclear weapons and threatening South Korea with total annihilation. How can this be that two nations so at odds could come together under one flag? It took imagination and someone had to believe it could happen first.
Well know authors, preachers, and motivational speakers have said, "It you can believe it, you can achieve it." Jesus also directed us to believe;
21And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, ...
22And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
Matthew 21:21-22
Occasionally, I have a client compare their life with how they wish it could be, "Why can't other people just be kind and show some gratitude?" I like to encourage people to be the best they can be...and to give grace where others do no live up to their behavioral standards. This usually results in a discussion about what is "normal," or "right" or "just common sense." And I have to remind them that not everyone is measured by their definition of what is normal, what is right, or what is common sense. We live in a world where everyone is being told they have "the right" to determine for themselves, and for others, what is correct behavior. Unfortunately, the ones who want to hold fast to a "old perspective" of what is right and wrong is finding themselves on the defensive as others accuse them of being "hateful," or "closed minded," and "intolerant." In other words, what used to be common sense is no longer common, and for many what is common today does not make sense.
I'm sure there was a lot of discussions between leaders of both North and South Korea prior to the ceremony. I bet it was heated at times, but somehow these two nations at obvious odds with one another could come to an agreement. Maybe there's still hope for America. Maybe warring politicians with opposing agendas could end the fighting as they use the 2018 Olympic opening ceremony as motivation to come "under one flag" for the sake of peace.
Imagine it.