Holy Synergy!

sermon by Ted Tollefson
January 19, 2020

IMAGINE that you were an eye-witness to one of the great manifestations of Synergy. What would you actually see?

Moses saw a bush in the desert that burned brightly but was not consumed. If you’re taking notes that would seem to violate the Law of Entropy: when things burn, the fuel is consumed and reduced to ash. But that did not happen. What did? [Exodus 3: 1-20]

In the Christian Bible there are also many “miracles” which happen in the presence of Jesus that seem to defy the laws of physics.

Remember? 5000 people gathered to hear him preach. At the end of a long day, people are hungry. What did Jesus do? He gathered 5 loaves and 2 fishes and somehow the multitude is fed. How did he do that? What do both of these stories mean? What is their common purpose?

The orthodox interpretation is that both Biblical stories testify to a transcendent Power, a Supernatural Dimension that periodically enters the field of time-space-causality to try something new, radical, that alters the laws of our physical universe.

“This zone of special effects with possibly natural and/or supernatural causes is called “Synergy,” or as I call it, “Holy Synergy.”

But there are other possibilities too. There could be special conditions under which the field of natural events enters a “special zone” or “altered phase”. This “special zone” where amazing, extra-ordinary and yet natural things happen because of a qualitative shift between the elements of the bush, Moses, the Light or between the crowd of hungry worshipers, Jesus, and the custom of many tribal peoples to keep a “little extra food” under their robes—just in case. This zone of special effects with possibly natural and/or supernatural causes is called “Synergy,” or as I call it, “Holy Synergy.”

Synergy as Theological Minority Report

The first wide-spread use of “Synergy” came in the 16th century when various branches of Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Christianity were trying to figure out how salvation worked: how the human soul managed to return to its original,unblemished nature.

The Synergists declared that salvation was a cooperative process, a joint venture involving human and divine factors who managed to “work together” to re-new the Soul. Those in the Synergistic camp—which included liberal Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Unitarians, Universalists and Methodists—quoted St. Paul who declares that “We are synergoi (fellow workers) with God” in the process of salvation (I. Cor. 3.9).

Those who were heavily invested in human depravity and what could be gained by emphasizing it objected, of course, for both theological and economic reasons. But the principle was established of a Holy Coop uniting Divine and Human. Perhaps “God” needs humanity to wake up. Perhaps humanity needs a Transcendental Reminder to return to our “true nature.” The work of Salvation is not so much a supernatural wrecker with flashing red lights that pulls our sorry vehicle out of the ditch. It’s more like a jump-start delivered by a friendly neighbor who just wants us to get back on the road again.

Think of this as Synergy

A down-to-earth example of synergy

Perhaps a few more down-to-earth examples of synergy might be helpful. Have you ever been to a potluck where the different dishes brought by a diverse group of people come together blend together to create a meal that is deeply satisfying because of the way that differing flavors combine in a way that is difficulty to anticipate or explain? That’s synergy. For those who love to cook you’ve probably noticed how certain flavors, like lemon and chicken or lemon and ginger seem to “like” each other. When they come together they create a matrix of flavors that draws upon the sourness of lemons and the sparkling pungency of ginger to create something new: ginger lemonade. That’s synergy.

Some of us like singing in community especially when the differing voices blend to create a harmonious chord that is “more than” the separate notes that resonates deeply and make us feel good and more deeply connected to one another. That’s synergy, too.

And the communities who sing together have often proved quicker to recovery from natural and man-made disasters because they know how to synergoi/ work together for the common good. That’s synergy, also.

Car tires can be thought of as synergy!

Synergy also works in the realm of chemistry. An English chemist named Charles worked for years in the late 19th century trying to create a way to stabilize natural rubber so it could be turned into something useful and durable. One of his many experiments was to combine natural rubber with sulfur. It made a hell of a stink, but when he checked the next morning, he had created “vulcanized rubber.” He founded a company which turned this happy discovery into tires for horseless carriages. What was his name? Charles Goodyear! That’s synergy, too.

Principles of Synergy

Perhaps these examples—both natural and supernatural—can help us define Synergy, which has 4 or 5 principles that are distinct yet connected.

First, in a synergistic system something “more” is produced, something of surplus value is created. In synergistic systems 1 + 1 = 3. The bush burns, but is not consumed. The rubber heats up, but does not melt.

Second, in a synergistic system there is a tendency to maximize mutual benefits. In a world of win/lose solutions and zero sum games, synergy blazes a trail towards win/win outcomes! No body has to be a “loser” so someone else can be a “winner.” When we all bring something to a potluck and share what we have there is enough. And that “enoughness”—that delightful abundance—is synergy.

A third characteristic of synergy is sometimes role reversal. Those who have social power and status increase their status by acting like “widows and orphans” and giving their surplus away. The Pope washes the feet of penniless migrants from Africa. We prove our moral worth not by hoarding but by sharing. We serve the best in us by welcoming the guest to our table and treating immigrants like honored guests whose care is our concern and a measure of our civility.

Fourth, there is a peculiar tendency in synergistic systems to transcend dichotomies, or in positive terms, to discover and create underlying unities.

Synergy in Humanistic Psychology

Abraham Maslow, one of the founders of humanistic psychology changed the course of American psychology by giving up on the norm. Maslow was not interested in statistical analysis; he was not interested in study of those stuck in the middle of a statistical bell curve. Instead, he was very interested in the most creative, original productive people in every field: science, religion, humanities, business, government.

He sent his grad students out to interview the best of the best in every field. These peak performers exhibited a unique bi-polar blue-print of qualities. They were self-assertive but also selfless. They did what they loved and also loved what they did. At their best and most productive, the differences between “work” and “play” disappeared. They could be absorbed for hours or days on a break-through project and end up with more energy and delight than when they started.

“Everyone gained something, and extraordinary work felt like fun. ”

Maslow, eventually called these super-stars “high synergy” people. Even better, Maslow believed that their habits of extraordinary excellence were contagious: high synergy people created high synergy organizations and vice versa. Everyone gained something, and extraordinary work felt like fun.

Concluding Reflections on Synergy

I hope that you are getting a clearer picture of what synergy is and why it might be important. Synergy signals when a system is shifting into a self-transcending mode: something new, something of surplus value is created or discovered. In synergistic systems mutual advantages are maximized. We create or discover win/win solutions in a world often prone to win/lose or lose/lose transactions.

Where there was scarcity, now there is abundance. Where there was seemingly irreconcilable conflict, now there is a deeper harmony and peace. In synergistic systems, roles are sometimes reversed and the habit of dichotomized thinking gives way to unitary wisdom. Our work becomes our play, our excellence becomes contagious. When resources are multiplied, there is enough for everyone. But what theological framework should we place around this lovely possibility of Synergy?

One possibility is natural and ethical. What makes Synergy possible is a special kind of relationship between the elements present—a relationship of mutuality, reciprocal care and respect, of unconditional love. When we live into the Golden Rule and not just talk about one day a week, many things get better.

Another possibility is supernatural and transcendental. What if there is a dimension of pure love or pure consciousness which some call God, Spirit, Tao or “Great Mystery.” It sometimes interrupts the customary constructions of time-space-causality to make something new. “Behold,” says the Great Mystery “I am that I am.” (Exodus) “I make all things new.” (Revelations)

A third possibility is both natural and supernatural. When human actions and social contracts are aligned with our true nature, a greater Power for —overwhelming surplus of joy and generosity—is released into our world. God is humankind at its best, and humankind is God looking for an opportunity.

When Human Nature is true to the good seed planted in us, then resources can grow and multiply 10, 20, 100 fold, just like the Good Book says.