The reason I brought this up (and now that I've written this maybe I'll try and finish the book. You can click here to read the tales if you) is because some of what I read today in the Bible reminded me of The Canterbury Tales. In Eugene H. Peterson's Bible Translation The Message, two verses in Ephesians stuck out to me. Ephesians 4:1 says, "I want you to get out there and walk -- better yet, run! -- on the road God called you to travel."
The second one is Ephesians 4:4. It says, "You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly."
I wonder if unity would happen more often if we took the time to tell each other our tales and listen to others tell theirs? Instead, I think we often go to church and are quick to leave to get to the things we have planned for that day. There's nothing wrong with plans, but I wonder if maybe we should be investing in our brothers and sisters more of our time?
One thing about Chaucer's tales -- the people are quite honest and forthright about personal stuff. They don't hold anything back. We in today's society often hide behind nice masks afraid to really share what we need to share.
Jesus wants us in His church to experience unity (that doesn't mean we agree on everything. That just means we love each other and not allow anything to take that love for each other away). In John 17:20-21 Jesus says, "I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me."
Unity between Believers will cause the world to believe that the Father sent Jesus! That is powerful!!