The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their supervisors.

Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. Next to them the repairs were done by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River. After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of the Ovens. Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs—he and his daughters. (Nehemiah 3:3-12)

What a pattern: “next to them…beside them…next to them…beside them.” Together, they made repairs and restored a wall.

Together.

We must work beside one another, working as a united body to get things done. When we work on our own, we might get a little done, but there’s no connection, no grander purpose.

I have a hard time believing all these people got along through the process of living life beside each other. Surely there were disagreements. Yet they moved forward toward a common goal. They might have taken slightly different approaches with slightly varying time frames, but they connected with each other. They knew they were stronger together.

We need to be willing to set some things aside and come together in our commonality in order to repair and restore. We’re not going to agree on everything. We’re not going to be available at the same time. But we can move forward together. And while the end goal might seem to be the thing that ties us together, in the end, it will be the process of coming together that is the most important and most lasting.

Be boldly humble as you repair and restore alongside others today.