Often I agree…I think…with the premise that we are all God’s children and thus all worthy of the care and consideration of our fellow human beings. This morning our Director of Faith Development Rev. Laurie Fields preached a thought provoking message. The sermon was regarding our seeing our fellow human beings as God sees them. Rev. Fields sited the recent Stanford University Rape Case where the assailant received a six month jail sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. As Rev. Fields explained to us that,” the first sin the assailant committed was his failure to see his victim as a human being rather than an object to gratify his needs.”
Having been a regular church attender for the past forty-six years I can attest that you grow accustomed to the same faces and personalities that you encounter each Sunday morning. What do we do when someone enters our sanctuary that is perhaps disheveled…perhaps with an odor…perhaps with the challenges of mental illness…extreme loneliness…or without enough food to eat or money to provide for the basic necessities? Do we welcome them into God’s House? Do we connect with them…engage them in conversation and by that I mean perhaps the bumpy type that comes from two humans from different walks of life working to know each other?
I heard Don Lemmon who is a prominent newsman on CNN ask a panel of political commentators if they were racist? Each said that they were not. Then he inquired if they regularly socialized with or had people in their home that were of another race? He then said quietly and humbly that if a person does not do this that they probably had some racist views. Mr. Lemmon then went on to quote a study that noted that the breaking of this cycle happened when a person of one race loved a person of another race.
Early this morning the largest number of people killed by gunfire ever in the United States occurred in Orlando, Florida. This tragedy occurred at a gay nightclub where a shooter opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon. Currently fifty people are dead and over fifty are in the hospital. These precious human beings were children of God…his creation…not objects to fulfill an evil person’s prejudice upon! Some of the nicest people I know…my friends…are gay…and I am honored to know them!
When the Syrian refugee flees for their life from their home…their country…their family…all that they have ever known…will I welcome them and give them shelter and succor…and love that transcends their religion and attire and sees them as God’s children…and my fellow traveller through this earthly life?
The great author Ernest Hemingway said that, “If you write a sentence that is true you have written a great sentence.” The truth is that I am not where I want to be in loving and caring for God’s creation. Are you?
The Happy Traveler 
I’m not, but I’m trying … taking more steps the right direction than the wrong, some days. Hopefully more days than not.
It is a journey…isn’t it? Thank you for your truth. 😃
My heart has been aching all day, not just for the 100’s affected by this tragedy, but over all those lives senselessly taken in the past decade or so by other crazed murderers….it’s all evil, pure evil. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
I don’t consider myself a racist. I am a product of my environment. My dad was a WWII veteran and served until he retired. I was raised around the world and US. My schools were all integrated. My jobs all were where I was “serving” the public. I never consciously sought to avoid friendships with others “different” from me. I’ve admired and respected many people who were different but close relationships never developed. I have relatives married to people of different races and nationalities. They are now my relatives and I feel connected to them even if only by marriage. But to answer your question honestly, I’d be racist.
I appreciate your honesty! Openness to others is a journey and the first step for all of us is to listen to each other with our hearts.
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Well written. I do not consider myself a racist. I work with people from all over the world – and they are just like us: Good, bad and in between. And I agree with you…some of the nicest and best people I know are gay.
Thank you my friend. We are all human and if we simply recognize that common bond…we would understand that there is much more that unites us than divides us.
Maybe I should add that we have welcomed many thousands of refugees to Sweden this year – many Syrians. By many people they are not welcome, but by most of us they are.
I think that is wonderful! Some of the political rhetoric in the United States is increasingly frightening.
Great reflective piece! I’m not where I need to be either, but I’m working on it. I, too, have loved ones who just happen to be gay. I can’t stop loving them for that reason. My heart goes out to all human beings who are living in fear and are despised simply for who they are.
Thank you my friend. I appreciate your healing remarks! 😃
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