The Wire Fence

Fences usually divide and separate people —those on one side of the fence are separated from those on the other side. But with a change of perspective, a fence can also be a symbol of unity. Michel Quoist (1918–1997) was born on June 18, 1918, in Le Havre, France. He became a Roman Catholic priest and writer, author of the best-selling book Prayers of Life, originally published in 1954. In his prayer “The Wire Fence,” Quoist highlights unity: The wires are holding hands around the holes; To avoid breaking the ring, they hold tight the neighboring wrist, And it’s thus that with holes they make a fence. Lord, there are lots of holes in my life. There are some in the lives of my neighbors.

But if you wish, we shall hold hands, We shall hold very tight, And together we shall make a fine roll of fence to adorn Paradise.

But genuine unity cannot be achieved by human effort.

Ellen White says that it can be accomplished only through Christ.

She explains, The cause of division and discord in families and in the church is separation from Christ. To come near to Christ is to come near to one another.

The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome difficulties —though there will be much of this to do— but union with Christ.

Picture a large circle, from the edge of which are many lines all running to the center. The nearer these lines approach the center, the nearer they are to one another. Thus it is in the Christian life. The closer we come to Christ, the nearer we shall be to one another. God is glorified as His people unite in harmonious action.

May our union with Christ hold us close together as families and as church members!