It is not long since local elections took place across the country. The results showed a shift away from the traditional dominance of the two main political parties towards a much wider spread of votes across a range of parties. This was reflected here in Bilton ward where a number of different parties recorded significant numbers of votes. There is clearly a diversity of political opinion here in Bilton, reflecting an emerging broader pattern in the rest of the country.

In the aftermath of the elections, there was much commentary in the media describing this situation as the so-called “fracturing” of UK politics. The use of the word “fracturing” in this context is interesting because it has a negative connotation. “Fracturing” suggests something is broken into lots of pieces and there is no unity or common purpose. In this model, a diversity of political views is regarded as a problem that needs fixing.

Imagine, though, the other end of the spectrum and a different set of election results - an overwhelming vote for one single party. In this scenario, the people would have spoken with a united voice. Everyone would be together and of one mind. At first glance, this level of political unity might sound attractive. But this is, of course, the situation in one party dictatorships where a diversity of political opinion is deliberately and harmfully crushed to the detriment of all. Somewhere there is a healthy balance between political diversity and the forging of a shared political unity.

The challenge of finding a balance in diversity and unity is not unique to politics and is something we face in many areas of our shared life together. I find it interesting, then, that the Christian church believes in a God who is at once a unity and also a diversity. This is the central Christian idea that God is Trinity - one being and three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The unity of the one God exists in the relationship between the diversity of the persons of God. We celebrated this great mystery of the Christian faith on 31st May, Trinity Sunday.

When some of the earliest Christians in Ancient Greece tried to understand what the mysterious relationship looked like at the heart of the Trinity, the best way they could describe it was as a dance. God, they said, is like a divine circle dance, a dance of love that moves back and forth between each person of the Trinity.

For me, this concept of the Trinity points to an important idea. If we are to balance diversity and unity, then two things are key – relationships and love for the other. Individually, we are inevitably diverse people, but throughout our lives we are capable of uniting with others for the common good. Perhaps in something as simple as a shared dance performed by a diverse group of people. As relationship and love are central to our understanding of God, so too will these things be central in our quest for a healthy balance between unity and diversity – in political life and in many areas of our shared lives together.

Dan