The Challenge

The challenge was on.
The cartoon-ish nature of the piece made me take notice.
The drawing of two feet made me wonder what this was all about.
I read it skeptically.

How smart is your right foot?
I guess there are some things the brain cannot handle.
While sitting in a chair, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
Now, while doing this, draw a number “6” in the air with your right hand.
Your foot will change directions.

I can attempt many things.
Many challenges go unheeded either because of lack of time or lack of interest.
However, this one intrigued me.
It can’t possibly be true.

I’ve done challenges before.
I can rub my head and pat my stomach.
I can walk and chew gum at the same time…if I chewed gum.
I can stand on one leg with my eyes closed.

As much as I wanted to disregard this challenge, I confess I tried to do it.
I turned sideways on the kitchen chair and lifted my right foot in the air.
I began to make clockwise circles in the air.
Success.

I lifted my right hand and began to make a “6” in the air.
Immediately, my right foot changed direction.
As if on cue, my right foot began to go counter clockwise.
I could do each task separately, but together there was a disconnect.

I tired it again and got the same results.
I tried the challenge using my right foot and my left hand.
Using alternate appendages, the right foot continued to go in clockwise circles.
My left hand made the number “6” in the air with no trouble at all.

Fascinating.
I had to know why.
What was the reason for the disconnect?
I wanted to find a simple explanation.

The cerebellum part of the brain manages body movements, like the circling of the foot or the drawing of the number 6. However, the nerve fibers from the right side of the body cross the brain stem and connect with the left side of the brain, just as the fibers on the left side of the body connect with the right side of the brain. When you try to draw the number 6 with your right hand, those signals are coming from the left side of the brain. Even though circling your foot is easy to do in either direction, you cannot rotate your foot in the opposite motion of the drawn six at the same moment. The left side of the brain cannot manage two opposite movements in the same moment, so the brain combines the movement to a similar motion. When you switch to the left foot, there is no problem because the right side of the brain controls your foot movement, while the left side can focus on drawing the number 6. (https://www.upworthy.com/simple-trick-causes-foot-to-change-direction)

One side of the brain cannot manage two opposite movements in the same moment.
The brain combines the movement to a similar motion.
When on the same side, the motion cannot be in opposition.
True in the challenge and true in life.

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

We are the Body and Christ is the Head.
United in Him, how can we ever be in opposition with each other?
In Christ, we are on the Lord’s side.
We must move in a similar motion towards our heavenly Home.

We will inevitably have disagreements.
We will not always see eye to eye.
But we are one in the Spirit.
I sang the hymn to my own heart.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

 

We will walk together.
We will not do it perfectly.
In Christ, we are on the Lord’s side.
Let’s press on in unity.