Thanksgiving Wisdom

Thanksgiving is often a time for being together with family, listening to stories, remembering our shared history. It's a time for being enriched by the insights and wisdom of those members of the family who have been around for a long time and have seen a lot, and enjoying the freshness and exuberance of those who are at earlier places along the way.  This morning I found in my in-box a quote from one of the great grandmotherly figures of our church community, whose insight and wisdom is always worth reflecting on.  I found it helpful, and so thought I would pass it on without further comment.  Happy Thanksgiving!

One man may be conversant with the Scriptures, and some particular portion of the Scripture may be especially appreciated by him; another sees another portion as very important, and thus one may present one point, and another, another point, and both may be of highest value. This is all in the order of God. But if a man makes a mistake in his interpretation of some portion of the Scripture, shall this cause diversity and disunion? God forbid. We cannot then take a position that the unity of the church consists in viewing every text of Scripture in the very same light. The church may pass resolution upon resolution to put down all disagreement of opinions, but we cannot force the mind and will, and thus root out disagreement. These resolutions may conceal the discord, but they cannot quench it and establish perfect agreement. Nothing can perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance. Satan can sow discord; Christ alone can harmonize the disagreeing elements. Then let every soul sit down in Christ's school and learn of Christ, who declares Himself to be meek and lowly of heart. Christ says that if we learn of Him, worries will cease and we shall find rest to our souls.  - Ellen White, 11MR 266.1.