FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
In elementary school, I remember a game that some kids (especially girls) liked to play. It was not one of those structured games on the playfield. One of those games happened when two kids sat beside each other or talked together.
If, for any reason, the two kids were thinking about the same subject but by coincidence came out with the same sentence simultaneously, one would hasten to hit the other on the arm and say, “Die before me.” Of course, more mature ones would say, “Great minds think alike, and fools seldom differ.” Sometimes they would repeat the first part of the latter proverb, “Great minds think alike,” then hold the second part to get a laugh, with “Fools seldom differ.” Many kids played the game and often used it to build relationships.
I have also heard that telepathy is when two individuals simultaneously verbalize the exact thoughts. In another context, a friend or relative calls on the phone at the same time while you are dialing or have your phone in hand to call them, or you are texting them while they are texting you; we might speak of it as a chance. But, again, you might be shocked to see a person who is a close friend turn up at a place wearing the same colors as you.
My wife and I, who have been married for 52+ years, often dress in the same colors without any plan to do so. She did not see me when I got dressed and left the bedroom, only to find that she was wearing similar colors as she came out to where I was.
Why am I mentioning all the scenarios above? It is to emphasize that although we are so insistent on proclaiming our individuality, there is something in building relationships and community that we should not just treat as a coincidence but need to do as a strategic venture.
I am not calling for all of us to dress in a similar manner, pick up the phone at the same time to call or text one another or say the same thing at the same time, but I am calling for us to stop being so contrary to one another in our thoughts and behavior. I am not calling for what is known as “herd mentality” or “groupthink,” where it is assumed that an action is appropriate because others are thinking about it or performing it. I am calling for collaborative thinking that can build our homes and communities.
As the apostle Paul sought to build up unity in the church communities he led, he reminded the members that they needed to “Be likeminded towards one another” (cf. Romans 15:5).
I am not a great sports player or a fan, but I have paid enough attention to the game of baseball to note that team members have to be like-minded to make a success of the game. For example, a catcher and a pitcher must think together. The catcher must know whether the pitcher will throw a curve ball, a breaking ball, or a straight ball over the center of the plate. The catcher must think out the speed of the ball, etc. Collaborative thinking must go into each ball thrown. There has to be understanding between the one behind the plate and the one throwing the ball. The same collaboration goes in football, basketball, and all games that demand more than one player. You either think together and win or think independently of each other and lose the game.
Again, let me be clear that my suggestion does not diminish the need for diverse thoughts and opinions. As is made clear, diversity of thought elevates teams by fostering communication around individual perspectives and creating a posture of thinking beyond oneself. It’s a key ingredient to candid conversation, innovation, and execution. But one might idolize diversity of thinking so much that it destroys relationships and community. We must encourage diversity of thought and not confuse it with contrary or conflictual thinking, by which some people think their opinions are so great that they cannot give place to others’ thoughts.
Let me return to the proverb, “Great minds think alike,” but “Fools seldom differ” to remind us to be humble in our thinking. In this, I suggest that:
- We should not idolize our thoughts.
- We should not be disrespectful of the thoughts of others.
- We ought not to engage in groupthink.
- We should not think that the thoughts of others are not as crucial as ours.
- We must not share thoughts of evil with others.
- We are not to be patient with those whose thoughts contradict ours.
We are to strive to be like-minded. That is, building unity and community instead of constantly fighting with thoughts and words. The apostle Paul’s appeal to be likeminded was written to church folks arguing and breaking up their community. Like-mindedness is still needed in our society today, where there is so much conflict because we want to prove how individualistic we are.
Therefore, the simple message is that we must do all we can to bring our thoughts closer to each other to build community.
