One in the Same

     Fun trivia fact about The Lion King: while the music was written by Elton John, the score by Hans Zimmer, and the lyrics by Tim Rice, the African influence came from a man named Lebo M. He's the guy who sings the "naaaaaaa-sivenyaaaaa!!!" or whatever from The Circle of Life. Around the same time as The Lion King's release, Lebo M released a CD through Walt Disney Records called Rhythm of the Pride Lands, featuring the hit song He Lives in You. He Lives in You was such a catch that basically the entire reason that The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride was made was so they could use that song. I mostly just like the sequel for its music, personally, most notably this song and one other: We Are One. This is the song that Simba sings with his daughter Kiara when he tries to help her understand her role and responsibility as future queen. I'll put it here below (now that I've finally figured out how):

    

     The concept of this song is beautiful: we are more than just ourselves; we need each other, and we need to honor those who have come before us while preparing for those who will honor us when we have gone; we need to be one. I agree with that, and my hope in writing this post is to help myself (and hopefully you) understand a little better what it means to be truly unified.

     Before I forget to address the English fallacy inherent in the phrase featured in the title, the expression is "one and the same," not "one in the same." The first (correct) version is a literary device called Variation, wherein synonyms or close-synonyms are grouped together to add emphasis. This happens a lot in religion, calling Christ our "Lord and Savior" or "Savior and Redeemer." The words aren't exactly identical in meaning, but they're similar enough, and their purpose is to emphasize the incomprehensible role of Christ's atoning power. Thus, the phrase "one and the same" just emphasizes the link between the two descriptions, making them pop off the page a little more.

     But "one in the same," though incorrect, may teach us even more about how to come together on a much deeper level than we're used to.

     Have you ever been in a group? This can be in class, on a team, in a family, or in society...so the answer is "yes," no matter who you are. The only way out of it is to be a hermit on a remote island, in which case you wouldn't be reading this blog. Now, within that group, have you ever disagreed, argued, or fought with any members of it? I have. I can't speak for you, but I imagine that you have, too. It's part of learning to grow, I think. But that doesn't mean it's not difficult.

     Who here has seen this movie, Miracle? It's about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that broke the Soviet Union's twenty-year streak of utter dominance on the ice. It's one of my favorite movies, hands down. I play hockey, and there are so few films about this, the single greatest sport of all time, and the few that exist are generally absolutely awful—at least as far as the hockey itself goes. So I love this movie.

     Anyway, one of the principle premises of this movie is the players having to realize that they represent their country and not themselves. They have to learn to come together despite college rivalries, which actually are as big of a deal as they make it out to be. In short, being on the same team, they are the same. But that's not enough—they need to learn to be one in the same in order to be successful.

     I am and have been part of countless groups in my life: school classes, jobs, Boy Scouts, a full-time mission, church, my family, etc. Everybody in these organizations is their own person. We are all unique and each have something to offer. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and we can all help each other achieve our potential. Very few people maliciously oppose others, so disagreements generally stem from sincere concerns on either side. It's hard to be different and be together at the same time. It's not impossible, but it's difficult.

     In church, school, work, and otherwise, I am always "the same" as everyone else—in the same group with the same ultimate purpose—but I have a hard time achieving true unity by becoming one. So how do we do it, and why should we?

     In the scriptures, God tells us, "If ye are not one, ye are not mine" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27). That, for me, is enough reason to want to be one. I want to be God's. But beyond that, I once heard an African proverb that says something like, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." I have seen the fruition of this proverb so many times in my life. The greatest results in my own personal progress have always come from other people who cared enough about me (or hated me enough) to show me how I needed to change and then helped me get there.

     I am so weak on my own. I've gone through periods of self-building and self-destruction, but I know without doubt that I'm valuable and capable as a human being. That said, I need the people around me in order to progress. I can be disagreeable, but once I acknowledge that my friends and family genuinely want to help, I try to open up and see things their way. As I become more at one with them, I become more at peace with myself, and I feel myself drawing closer to God. I feel myself becoming better.

     Being one doesn't mean that you have to lose or assimilate your identity; it doesn't mean that you're not good unless you're surrounded by other, more capable people; it doesn't mean that you have to forget your purpose. It does mean, that while we pursue our individual potential, we need to realize that no matter how badly we may want to, we can never reach it alone. As Desmond Tutu said, "Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another." I couldn't say it better.

     I love everyone. People frustrate me sometimes, but I love everyone I've ever met. It's hard to explain why. But that's the way God intended it to be, and therefore that's the way—uh huh uh huh—I like it. So don't be afraid to mingle, to gather, or to unite. Somewhere out there is someone who can help you reach the next step, no matter what it is. Look for them, find them, and learn from them, because it's not enough to be after the same thing. Someday, somehow, you need to learn to be one in the same.

Here's a great video about football! And unity! Two friends who play on rival football teams learn to be unified in their faith in Christ. Check it out!