Let's Talk about Racism

Earlier this year Julie and I found ourselves eating with friends who are also full time pastors at Olive Garden. I guess we were loud enough that a man from the next table was ease dropping on our conversation and as he was leaving he came over and talked to us about our conversation.  We chatted for a few moments and one of our friends made a comment about the man's race.  I was a little annoyed by the comment, but felt like if I confronted my friend it would make a bigger deal out of the situation.  One more comment came and I was even more irritated.  After the conversation, I asked my friend, "Why did you bring up race in our conversation?"  He simply answered, "Well didn't you notice he was Black?"  To be clear, my friend did not say anything negative or offensive about the man's race.  It raises the question in my mind do I need to be more willing to talk about it in order to help overcome racism?  
So with the recent news stories being dominated by the Zimmerman trial of the shooting of Trayvon Martin the issue of race is at the forefront. It is clear that we need to continue to the work of stamping out the injustice of prejudice and racism in our world.  
A recent Cheerios' commercial included a bi-racial parent couple with a young daughter putting Cheerios on her dads chest while he was sleeping to help him be healthy.  The questions that come to my mind are: 
1. If you saw the commercial did you notice the couple was bi-racial? 
2. What was your reaction to the couple being bi-racial? 
3. Are you surprised that Cheerios had to end people being able to comment on line about the commercial because of the racist comments about the commercial?  

Here is a link to a video about kids reaction to the commercial and the comments about the commercial:
http://globalgrind.com/news/kids-react-interracial-cheerios-commercial-video

Galatians 3:28 there is not here Jew or Greek, there is not here servant nor freeman, there is not here male and female, for all ye are one in Christ Jesus

We are one in Christ!  Connected, equally important to God, equally essential to the Kingdom, no matter what our skin color, our economic status or our title.  

John Wesley theology of original sin irritated the upper class societies of Europe.  How could he possibly suggest that a noble was equally depraved and influenced by sin as a common person?  How dare he suggest that God sees us all as equally able to do evil or good.  

Killdeer

I have really enjoyed watching the killdeer in our church parking lot this year.  They build a nest on the ground by moving rocks enough to create a bowl shaped nest.  The eggs are perfectly camouflaged and very difficult to see.  The parents will do anything they can do to keep you away from the eggs.  They will act injured to make themselves look like easy prey.  They will come right at you and try and make you forget they are a bird.  So I had been watching the four eggs.  Watching and waiting.  Everyday I came to work I would go check on the progress.  Then I was gone to Chicago on a missions trip and I just knew I would miss the eggs hatching.  But when I returned the eggs were still there.  Then on Monday of last week I went out to look and there they were 4 feathered little birds.  They didn't even move.  The most amazing thing was that Tuesday I went out and there was only one little bird in the nest.  I assumed the worst had happened and then from under the church van came three little killdeer birds running along the ground.  Wednesday, I noticed all four birds running next to their protective parents.  I was simply amazed at how fast the birds had gone from in egg to running at high speed.

I thought about my own spiritual journey.  How some segments of my life seemed to be slow and growth seemed to be hidden.  I often asked God if I would ever get out of this and move forward.  God was patient with me and continued to remind me, "My grace is enough!"  Other times I have felt like things were going so well and I was growing rapidly and I just couldn't wait to learn more and grow more.  Growing felt so natural and easy.  Wherever we are in the growing in faith process, may we always remember to keep moving forward!  We must grow!

2 Peter 3:18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.