"One World One Dream"

The 2008 Opening Ceremony in Beijing drew in one of the largest audiences in broadcasting history. An estimated 157 million viewers tuned in during the first four days of the Olympics. The opening ceremony which cost at least 300 million to produce, was a stunning display of both technological power and visual artistry by the host country of China, incorporating a central theme: One World, One Dream.

For a few hours, last Friday night, our countries, put aside political, economic, and social ideals and divisions to unify as one world cheering on 11,000 athletes from 204 countries - all heroes from their home countries whether they would wear gold or not by the end of the Olympics. As a viewer, my friends and I cheered for them regardless of origin, race, or religion in the spirit of the Olympics and in recognition of their years’ of sacrifice and training.

Zhang Yimou, an acclaimed Chinese director known for "House of Flying Daggers" and "Hero" oversaw the opening ceremonies as artistic director. I watched in awe during the celebration as a "scroll" was used as the platform to unify the performances that represented elements of Chinese history, traditions, and modern day culture. It was clear that Yimou was trying to represent Chinese wisdom throughout the celebration using Tai Chi masters and traditional elements to represent Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. It was as if Yimou was saying to his countrymen, "do not depart from the wisdom of your father, or teaching of your mother" as China boldly steps into modernity. This idea of celebrating your traditions and honoring your elders is also ingrained into us Christians in one simple commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Yimou seemed to urge his people to turn to their roots and their zen traditions that focused on unity and harmony for guidance as China faces mounting pressure from the international community during its emergence as a key player in the global marketplace and world politics.

During the ceremony, I marveled as a printing press transformed into a massive image of the Great Wall of China, which typically represents Chinese isolation and strength, and then transform again into plum flowers, a symbol of openness and fragility. Then while I applauded the display of technological power hundreds of smiling Chinese performers stood up from underneath the printing presses and waved to the crowd. Robbing technology of its power, Yimou delicately suggested human authenticity can never be replaced and will forever remain the real catalyst behind change and innovation.

An interesting highlight I watched was a dancer, beautifully draped in sheets of vibrant color, performing on a stage of fabric carried by an enormous procession of people. She was a beautiful dancer and an individual whose talent and grace would not have shone brightly without the supporting performers whose role was to simply hold her up on that fabric stage. Yimou captured the communal mentality that is characteristic of Chinese culture and oftentimes lacking in our own. The dancer and her supporting cast reminded me of the following scripture passage, "Now the body is not a single part, but many. …If a foot should say, "Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, "Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body," it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended." This idea of one body and of unity - with all parts equally as important really struck me while thousands of tai chi masters balanced each other perfectly. With no floor markings, and using only their sense of inner grace and balance they created perfect circles around children and proved that whenever we human beings work together in unity as one body, we can achieve grace. Those tai Chi masters proved that we can attain our higher purpose. Regardless of race, religion, or nationality we can achieve that kind of symmetry and cohesion and surround our children with peace if we submit to discipline, meditation, and grace. During the opening ceremony, we (all nations) united to celebrate our athletes and did indeed become "One World One Dream."

Written by Wesley McKnight