Diversity + Unity = Harmony

As I worked through photographing the variety of tulips my wife had planted last Fall in our front yard, I was totally caught up in their beauty. Things of beauty are what strum the chords of my heart.

But it wasn't until I was reviewing the photos on my computer that I had captured, pensively reflecting on my feelings and thoughts beyond the obvious beauty that I came to recognize the diversity of the flowers (shapes, colors, patterns, sizes, etc.) all existing together, side by side in complete unity that I came to realize another form of beauty far beyond the visual pleasantness. Namely, the beauty of harmony! Just like all the people of the world are one race, the human race, these tulips are all one kind of flower. What makes the collection of all the tulips so beautiful is how different they all are and mixed together forming one harmonious sea of beauty! And so it is with all the nations, tribes, languages of all the people in the world! Imagine how boring life would be if we were all the same! YUK!!

I'm not a skilled poet or writer, so I searched the internet for some quotes and deep thoughts on the subject of unity and diversity (there were LOTS to choose from!). I condensed my findings down to these two quotes from Leo Tolstoy that very well sum up what I'm feeling in my heart at this time:

Everybody thinks of changing humanity
and nobody thinks of changing himself.
— Leo Tolstoy

If once we admit, be it for a single hour or in a single instance,
that there can be anything more important than compassion for
a fellow human being, then there is no crime against man that
we cannot commit with an easy conscience.
— Leo Tolstoy, in the book “Resurrection”

--Jim--