I'm sitting in a hammock on the porch of our new house as I type this, surrounded by (almost) darkness, hearing a neighbor's stereo blast a Spanish song. I can tip my head back and see a sliver of the sky with the moon, reminding me that no matter where I am, the moon is always the same. I was told by my parents when I was a kid that the moon I saw (and fondly called "Mimaw's Moon") was the same moon that overlooked my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. There's a unity that comes from realizing we all find rest and comfort in the same moon.

      But, there's something that binds us all together more than seeing the same moon or sun or even living on the same planet. And that's the fact that, male or female, young or old, whatever color our skin might be or where we happen to live in this world, we are all made in the image of God. How can we not feel unified with people across the world- the neighbors down the street, the family in another country- when we realize that we were all made by the same loving Creator.

      There are universities that, once you go there, you are always considered from that university. Some people even define themselves by this connection. Other people who go/went to that same university will automatically be your friend and you will have an eternal bond. I heard of a guy who was in Europe and (having gone to Texas A&M) recognized a mutual "Aggie" while sightseeing. Stating that he too was an "Aggie", the two guys immediately felt a bond and a new friendship was born.

      It amazes me that, even though we are all made in God's image, we sometimes go to huge lengths to prove that we are better than the next guy (or girl). We all have something in common yet we so easily overlook it and even forget it... and this happens to be that we are all made and loved by an all powerful, fully merciful God. How is it that something this important, this vital to life, is ignored? As Christians, this is one of our points of where we find our identity, but it's not just Christians. It's everyone. However, how can we find such comfort in the fact that we are made in His image and loved by Him, but then choose to base other people's value on money, looks, and position. And we look down on people who we deem "unworthy" or "less than desirable". Obviously, this isn't everyone who does this. But it's something our culture teaches us- people find their worth/value from what they do. Sometimes they just don't realize that our worth comes from the fact that a loving, mighty Creator cared enough to make us.

      That love surrounds us all and creates a bond that can never be broken because God will never stop loving us. We all can look around us and realize this bond and also see the image of God in each person we meet.