In discussion the other day with a brother, an older friend of mine, an artist, who had asked me, once again, about the bandanni I wear about my head, wondering if anyone makes comments about it or 'teases' me about it...
('Teasing?' I thought,...'Really?' I haven't been teased, that I know of, for the solid majority of my life--which perhaps has at least a little to do with the 'speak softly and carry a big stick' mentality attributable to the namesake of my elementary school, Theodore Roosevelt; but this runs along a tangent that can be addressed at a different time...)
In any case, my old friend decided to take a jab, "No one thinks you're an Arab" [unexpectedly pronounced 'AY rab'] "toting a machine gun around or anything?" 'Well, of course,' I whipped back, 'because all Arabs' [pronounced correctly, as both jab and point of instruction] 'carry guns, right?' After a couple of quick chortles, I decided to respond to his question for real... In short, if people ask, I've no problem explaining that: a)this pale old nuked head of mine needs protection against even the slightest hint of UV rays; and b)I choose to protect others from having to look upon the most recent scars on aforementioned head.
But then, still wondering about and wanting to respond (non-confrontationally, of course) to his comment about that segment of Middle Eastern culture, the dialogue took a more theological turn, which actually happens fairly often when with this friend... I have no problem discussing my life and experience with people who express interest because it's who I am,...it's part of the divine light with which God has specifically blessed me.
The conversation turned to our response to life and to each other and how, by one of the harshest failings of human nature, we create walls around our selves... We box our selves inward--both to protect from exposure of our selves to others, and to protect from the impact others may have on our selves, and this feeds into all sorts of angst and bias--skewed perspectives about our selves and each other--which is actually quite destructive to our ongoing, lifelong development in a number of areas, especially in our respective relationships with God.
And here's where family theology comes into play... If we choose to see our selves and each other as part of God's creation--as children of God--then we are essentially brothers and sisters, even before we would further define the nature of that relationship. And whether others choose that same perception or not is not necessarily relevant--it's primarily a focus we can take into our interactions that can help break down those walls which we naturally build against each other.
And as we find we are in dialogue with a brother or sister in Christ, this can quickly tear down numerous walls toward the most fulfilling kinds of interaction. But even when this is not the case, that person we are talking to is still a brother or sister, and no matter who that brother or sister is, they are still as much in need of divine love, grace, and hope we know through Christ as we are.
And this is not, then, a matter of us cramming our views down another's throat, or assuming an opportunity to take some presumed moral high ground--it's simply a matter of taking steps, sometimes many, to continually break down those barriers, those walls that may prevent another from seeing that light as we are able. The beauty is that, if we approach our interactions with other brothers and sisters in humility, God may surprise us with light that can come to us from that brother or sister, with or without intentionality on that other's part. Don't be swayed by the anxieties and prejudice that consumes others, but share the light given you, and be open to truth and inspiration from the light given by God to these brothers and sisters you open your self to.
It all starts with perspective. Don't simply think outside the box--break down the walls of the boxes we find our selves in... Allow our selves, in prayer for growth--in Christ, in divine light, presence, wisdom, and Spirit--the chance to eliminate the barriers between our selves and others of God's chillun'!
I am forever thankful for the light I share and know with my direct brothers and sister, our families, our extended family, and those who have guided us all along!
Shalom! Emmanuel!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment