3 minute read
Jesus: Our Common Ground
The state of the world today appears bleak and hopeless. It seems unending in violence, injustices, disagreements, and great divides among black, white, left, right, young and old. I cannot help but go back to the years 20012002, when our country stood together in unity as Americans. We were not a color nor a political party. We were simply people who stood together in our common love, America. What amazing unity and love of country we all felt across our great nation. We came together not as different races but as Americans. It was such a warm and loving feeling. How quickly we forget.
Advertisement
I recently heard a woman speak on how she believes we are born racist, hence we come into this world hating each other. Wow! This disturbs me on many levels but most importantly, I wonder, how many other people also believe this particular belief? As a Christian, I cannot nor will I ever believe we are born with hatred in our hearts. First and foremost, God does not create bad or evil. He is love and creates us in His image and in His love. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Gen. 1:27. As the saying goes, “God doesn’t make junk.” I choose to believe that God created us with the ability to accept those who are not like us. God creates in us a heart that is full of love, kindness, joy and acceptance. I believe young children are the best examples of this truth. They interact with each other no matter their race, religion, handicaps, or birth defects. Children just love each other. When I was in kindergarten, my best friend was a girl also named Mary who was completely deaf. It never phased me nor hindered our friendship. I think also of my nephew, William, when he too was in kindergarten and his best friend was a Chinese boy named Nelson. Nelson spoke broken English due to the fact he had only been in America for a short time. This reality never hindered their friendship and as a result, they became best buds.
This brings me back to what we all have in common, Jesus. He is our ultimate connection as humans. If we all were to take time each day to focus on Him and allow Him to fill us with His love and acceptance, we could then take this love and acceptance, and pass it on to those we encounter throughout the day. What an incredible world this would be if we all made the choice. A choice that is very doable. It only requires two things from us: time and an open heart. That’s it. It is not complicated, nor out of our capacity as humans or as Christians. We are the hands and feet of Jesus my brothers and sisters. And because of this truth, it is up to us to make a conscience decision every day to choose love, to choose acceptance and to choose to show others that Jesus is not only real but He is present in that moment. We have a responsibility to show the world Jesus. Not white Jesus or black Jesus or brown Jesus, just Jesus. He is not a color nor a political party. He is not liberal or conservative. He does not hate. Period!
Today and each day that follows, let us all focus on what we have versus what we do not have. Let us focus on what we like versus what we do not like. Let us focus on what is good versus what is evil. Let us look at our brothers and sisters who are different and see Jesus.
Mary Arcement Alexander
