Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875–1961) made important contributions to the field of psychology. He laid a foundation for understanding different personality types by classifying people as either introverts or extroverts. He also observed that people seem to share a “collective unconscious” mind. He suggested that we inherit an understanding of some fundamental concepts. For instance, everyone knows a good mom when he or she sees one. Likewise, “When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation” (Romans 2:14,15 MSG).

I’ve noticed collectivity every time I open one of these Grace Moments books. We writers don’t work in adjacent cubicles. We don’t have meetings. We don’t chat with each other over lunch. But we often write about similar things. Sometimes I think, “Doggone it. Linda used the passage I was going to use.” Or “Pastor Mike addressed an issue I wanted to write about.” That happens because in our collective Christian minds, we have the same concerns.

That’s an encouraging phenomenon. Sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones who are frustrated with current events or fearful things are spinning out of control. But around the world other people are thinking the same thing we are because “there is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no” (Romans 2:15 MSG).