As I rode my bicycle this morning, I saw most of the same things I usually see in my cul-de-sac. But I know that there are new things each day. (Lam. 3:22-23 NIV) I can feel a fresh breeze that helps to keep me cool. I can hear the wind rustling in the trees. I hear different bird songs. I even hear a rooster crowing somewhere in the distance.

The neighbor’s dogs are in the yard. They bark at me as I ride by the first few times. There are three dogs, three sizes, and three different sounds. Later I hear another sound coming from their direction—a pet toy the largest dog is squeezing in its mouth! From the main road, I hear the sound of an emergency vehicle. I pray for those first responders and the people they are on their way to help.

Then I hear and see another vehicle coming my way—the garbage truck. As I pass by it and circle around and pass it again, another sense comes into play. You guessed it—smell! Even though I had ridden by the one trash container multiple times already, I had not noticed any odors. But the combination of all the containers they had picked up made a much stronger assault on my nose.

One good thing is that there is a magnolia tree right across the street from where the truck stopped. As I rode by it, I could take in the delightfully sweet aroma of its blooms.

A thought that came to me that, in this case, one container or one magnolia bloom was not noticeable to my senses, but when they were combined with other trash or many blooms the smell was more obvious as good or bad.

As an individual we can make a difference in this world, but when we unite our efforts with other like-minded believers, our influence can become stronger. Just as the combination of flavors in food enhances its taste, our working together makes the world “taste” better to others.

 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)