From One Blood
Many words have been written. Many opinions expressed. Many news programs produced.
Many chants have been yelled out. Many signs have been made. Many prayers have been prayed.
Some folks took advantage. Some caused damage and strife. Most others are in it to stand up for what's right.
We cannot ignore it. We can't wish it away. Too many in our country live in fear every day.
"Those people are crazy," I've heard it said here. "We don't have a problem--so few African Americans here."
We must face the uncomfortable truth: In our social systems--policing, education, economics, employment, property ownership--we who have white skin have clear advantages. If you think that's not true, pay attention to how too many people talk about Native Americans, how many times Anglo leaders have broken promises of support for our Native Nations, how much of our history and education is told solely from the Anglo point of view. Racism doesn't just affect Americans with dark skin.
I was very challenged when, years ago, a professor asked our seminary class what color we each though we were. Most of us said white. One classmate said brown. Two said black. The professor then held up a white piece of paper and asked, "Is your skin actually white?" He held up a black piece of paper and asked, "Is your skin actually black?" He then had us each hold out one arm, and asked us to arrange ourselves from light to dark. It turns out that no one's skin was either "white" or "black." We were all varying shades of tan--a progression from the most fair-skinned to the most dark-skinned. We were not one or two or three separate categories--we were a continuum of beautiful shades of skin color.
We are all connected. We are all related. We follow a Savior who teaches us to love God and neighbor. Who is our neighbor? Who is our brother or sister? Any person who has skin--wherever their skin color falls on the continuum of beauty God has created.
From one ancestor God made all people to inhabit the whole earth (Acts 17:26 CEB)
From one blood God hath made the nations of the earth. (King James Version)
From the Faith We Sing hymnal, #2170:
God made from one blood all the families of earth, the circles of nurture that raised us from birth; companions who join us to walk through each stage of childhood and youth and adulthood and age.
Give, Lord, to each family in conflict and storm, a sense of your wisdom and grace that transform sharp anger to insight that strengthens the heart, and makes clear the place where rebuilding can start.
Then widen that wisdom and grace to include the races and viewpoints our families exclude, till peace in each home bears and nurtures the bud of peace shared by all you have made from one blood.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
Prayer Request: for Nancy Hoger and family on the death of Rev. Norman Hoger.
Many chants have been yelled out. Many signs have been made. Many prayers have been prayed.
Some folks took advantage. Some caused damage and strife. Most others are in it to stand up for what's right.
We cannot ignore it. We can't wish it away. Too many in our country live in fear every day.
"Those people are crazy," I've heard it said here. "We don't have a problem--so few African Americans here."
We must face the uncomfortable truth: In our social systems--policing, education, economics, employment, property ownership--we who have white skin have clear advantages. If you think that's not true, pay attention to how too many people talk about Native Americans, how many times Anglo leaders have broken promises of support for our Native Nations, how much of our history and education is told solely from the Anglo point of view. Racism doesn't just affect Americans with dark skin.
I was very challenged when, years ago, a professor asked our seminary class what color we each though we were. Most of us said white. One classmate said brown. Two said black. The professor then held up a white piece of paper and asked, "Is your skin actually white?" He held up a black piece of paper and asked, "Is your skin actually black?" He then had us each hold out one arm, and asked us to arrange ourselves from light to dark. It turns out that no one's skin was either "white" or "black." We were all varying shades of tan--a progression from the most fair-skinned to the most dark-skinned. We were not one or two or three separate categories--we were a continuum of beautiful shades of skin color.
We are all connected. We are all related. We follow a Savior who teaches us to love God and neighbor. Who is our neighbor? Who is our brother or sister? Any person who has skin--wherever their skin color falls on the continuum of beauty God has created.
From one ancestor God made all people to inhabit the whole earth (Acts 17:26 CEB)
From one blood God hath made the nations of the earth. (King James Version)
From the Faith We Sing hymnal, #2170:
God made from one blood all the families of earth, the circles of nurture that raised us from birth; companions who join us to walk through each stage of childhood and youth and adulthood and age.
Give, Lord, to each family in conflict and storm, a sense of your wisdom and grace that transform sharp anger to insight that strengthens the heart, and makes clear the place where rebuilding can start.
Then widen that wisdom and grace to include the races and viewpoints our families exclude, till peace in each home bears and nurtures the bud of peace shared by all you have made from one blood.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
Prayer Request: for Nancy Hoger and family on the death of Rev. Norman Hoger.
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