About two decades ago, there was a brief song on a children's T.V. programme called "Cooperation".
Basically, it feature a bunch of muppets singing:
"Cooperation .... makes it happen, cooperation - working together."
There seems to be a rather high level of dissatisfaction amongst today's people (ie: divorce rates are higher, teams are breaking apart rather than forking interests, etc.)
I used to believe in reaction-based living before I learned what mature unity looked like. Let me explain:
REACTION-BASED LIVING
In a very short phrase, this is the philosophy of life that defeats the golden rule. The golden rule in human relationships is 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. Reaction-based living means to do unto others as they do unto you (see: an-eye-for-an-eye). I soon realized with the eye-for-an-eye approach that the world would be blind in about a day and a half. Besides, I like my eyes. ;)
MATURE UNITY
This is the concept that the Christian faith is built upon. All throughout the Bible there are stories about wars and fights and family feuds. Those stories are used to offset the example that Christ wanted us to recognize. The Old and New Testament alike mention that we as Christian believers should be more cooperative than those who don't know Christ. Sometimes, it doesn't happen quite that way in our everyday life. Not that it can't, it just doesn't always happen.
The big idea of "mature unity" can be put like this:
"When you know and understand yourself and other people, you act wisely. This is mature unity (read:maturity)."
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE LIFE WITH BETTER RELATIONSHIPS, ADD THE FOLLOWING BELIEF TO YOUR OWN BELIEFS AND WATCH THE DRASTIC INCREASE OF JOY.
'Being responsible for your own emotions gives you the power to handle others' emotions.'
When you can control your emotions and train your mind to resist reaction-based living, you can benefit from a world of resources that you can only get with the help of others.
From the Bible:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (New International Version)
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Cooperation is a simple thing to experience, but it is not easy until all involved agree.
Amos 3:3 (The Message)
Do two people walk hand in hand
if they aren't going to the same place?
Cooperation isn't about my way, your way or anyone else's way. It's about the way we both need to think, speak and do to get where we're both going. If we're not thinking the same thing, and speaking the same thing, we're not doing the same thing and not going the same place.
