Nothing is so conducive to unity as rejoicing about the same things and holding to the same purpose.

Dorotheos of Gaza was a big Packers fan. Anyone who had ever attended a Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field understands at a visceral and radical level today’s maxim. The Packers are the only NFL team owned by the fans, and Packers fans completely earn their shorthand for fanatics. No matter where you sit in the stadium you are in a family community. You belong. Strangers become relations in a matter of minutes. After awhile, you are having such a good time with your bleacher-mates you forget to watch what’s happening on the field. There is laughter, there is joy, there is camaraderie that you find few other places (sadly including most churches). Everyone is united in their commitment to brats, beer, and the celebration of the Green and Gold.

I often wonder what it would take for the Christian faith to emulate and model the average Packers game. What impact might we have on the world if we cheered ourselves hoarse shouting for Jesus? What if we committed to making strangers into friends, celebrating our unity and refusing to fixate on our differences? What if we channeled the same energy we give to supporting the team to supporting the outreach ministry and service of our community of faith? What if we joyfully and willingly gave three hours a Sunday to God instead of begrudging each second that the service exceeds 60 minutes? Would we stick around for overtime?

Okay, sports analogies don’t work for everyone. Dorotheos really wasn’t a Packers fan (though I think he did know Vince Lombardi) but he was a fan of unity, patience, bridge building and establishing healthy rapport. Throughout his teachings, Dorotheos made some simple either/or challenges.

• Focus on what unites rather than what divides
• Focus on what builds up instead of what tears down
• Focus on what brings joy in the face of despair
• Focus on the needs of others rather than the needs of self
• Focus on the best today instead of wasting time in regret of the past or anxiety about the future
• Pay more attention to what you can do for God instead of what you want God to do for you
• Make life easier and better for others rather than making things harder and worse for those around you
• Find and commit to things to agree on rather than looking for reasons to disagree go your separate ways

Christmas tends to be a time that brings people together. Whether as religious observance or cultural celebration, lights, songs, gifts, fun food, sappy movies and shows are shared and enjoyed by millions. Advent should make us hungry for these things. Our desire to bring joy to others, to “make the season bright,” to feel good should guide us through these four weeks.

How can you strengthen your relationships toward common good and common goals? What turns you from a nominal supporter into a true fan? What are some things you believe we could focus on that could unite us?