A well-meaning worshipper says to the visiting Asian American pastor, "Your English is very good!" even though English is the pastor's first language. It grieves her.  A white pastor fakes a Spanish accent and another colleague laughs-while I stand stunned, and grateful that none of our Hispanic or Latino colleagues are present.

I made my own gaffe recently when I assumed that a Korean pastor I met had a green card while serving in this country. Instead, he is an American citizen and has pastored his presbyterian church here for almost a decade. I apologized as soon as I realized my error, but still ....

As an Asian American who lives and moves in a multiracial, multicultural context, one would think that I would "get" diversity on an enlightened level. But, not really. I struggle, make mistakes, and worry about what I've said or done. I'm still learning. We all are.

We used to employ the phrase "cultural competency" to describe the ability to effectively and respectfully interact with people of different cultures and races. But more widespread and helpful now is the phrase "cultural humility." Rather than assessing a skill, and labeling one competent or not, it describes a stance-a rich and freeing one. It is a stance rooted in the servant-hearted way of Jesus Christ.

Adopting a stance of "cultural humility" with someone of a different race, class, or culture means that I choose to be "other oriented." I seek to be teachable, because I know that I have something to learn from this person. I acknowledge that there are unjust, systemic power imbalances in this world-and in relationships because of them-and I try to be sensitive to the impact that they can have on any interaction.

How do we foster growth in this critical area of loving and living in diverse contexts? Here are a few suggestions:

Cultivate friendship across differences. 

An African American seminary chaplain and professor literally changed my life by sharing about his own personal experiences. As much as is possible for a Japanese American woman, I was able to get profound, inside glimpses of the life of my colleague-and develop a wider awareness.  I remember taking my customary walk by myself one morning and thinking that if I were my colleague at that time, there was a good chance that a police car would come up alongside and check on me. I began seeing things from his perspective-which was helpful, even when it grieved me.

Read from authors from a diversity of contexts. When I am tired or overly busy, the last thing I want to read is a social analysis. But I love good stories-and also have a passion for well-written children's literature. From juvenile fiction, I have learned about all of these and more: the struggles faced by an Afghani family who fled their Soviet-controlled country; the brutal journey impoverished teenagers make in riding atop trains from Central America; and the challenges faced by young Native Americans trying to find themselves amidst the hardships of reservation life. Read to broaden your heart's understanding.

Attend an anti-racism training event. 

My husband and I went to one a few years ago, and then to an introductory session of another one, held by our presbytery, more recently. Both times, I felt as if my eyes were opened in new ways.  Anti-racism training is not about holding hands, talking about rainbows, and singing about love. It's hard, prophetic truth-telling for a world that's drowning in the abuse of power, hardheartedness, and entrenched policies that benefit some and not others. I have never felt very cozy after one of these, but rather both cleansed and convicted by the truth-telling, and heartened, too, with a renewed commitment to justice and real peace.

We are the people God has called to this present moment at this present time. Believe that you have what you need, in Christ, to be a bridge, a comfort, a reminder of goodness to someone different from yourself today. God needs every single one of us to help show the way to a world where everyone is beloved, and everyone belongs. 

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