A sense of "us"

Last night Rob and I were watching documentary material on the making of "The Return of the King". I was especially taken by the collaboration and teamwork that went into making this cinematic masterpiece. While Peter Jackson is the most notable name in it's production, it is so clear that he is just a piece of the puzzle in terms of it's development. The creativity of scores of individuals came together in a synergetic way, no one person's contribution particularly stands out over another's. People had to give up their ownership of their pieces in order to create the whole.

This strikes me as so profound in relation to what I've been thinking through in issues of family and work and church. I've always had a very strong sense of me, that I am different than others and can act independently. I've never had a terribly strong sense of being part of anything bigger than myself. Yet the potential for what can be when people are part of a co-operative team is so much greater than when we all act on our own. This sense of "us" is something that is growing in me, and I am excited about the potential that it could bring.