Tuesday, March 2, 2021
ONE
Galatians 3:25-28 Common English Bible (CEB)
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian. 26 You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
When I graduated from Temple University, I was assigned to Sulzberger Junior High School in West Philadelphia. I arrived at a turbulent time for the country. Racial unrest abounded. These were the days of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. My white face was not welcomed by many of the students. A number of minor incidents sent me the message that I should leave. It took me awhile, but I let my classes know that I wanted to be there, that I cared very much for the students and was determined to help them succeed. Things got better.
I remember at one concert a student asked if my family was in the audience. When I replied that they were, the student asked where they were seated. I found this amusing since the row in which they were seated stood out like a toothy grin in the dark auditorium. What a difference time and experience makes.
Today I wake up to that same sort of racial divide that we had in the 1960’s and I wonder why we haven’t learned from those turbulent days. We need to get to know each other as people, not as colors. As Adam Hamilton said in a recent sermon, we need a change of heart that leads to a change of mind. That leads to change of action, a change in behavior. If we can truly understand that God sees all His children through the eyes of love, maybe we can move forward in a positive way.
Lord Jesus, teach us to love each child of yours with the same respect, extending the same grace, the same power of love and forgiveness. Holy Spirit, enter our hearts with a love that stands up for the rights of all. Amen.
Sue Uzelmeier
