Those bumbeling thoughts in my head.
This has been a week of stereotypes and ignorant remarks all from people I respect, love and see greatness in. And it has been a frustrating and unsettling week for me. Beginning with Christian friends not appreciating our poor, my youth not seeing the people behind authority and fellow service providers minimizing those "believers of Christ". Circle complete.
My frustration reached its peak early this week and I lashed out to those I knew could take it, my youth. "I'M SICK OF MY FRIENDS STEREOTYPING OTHERS IN MY LIFE! THEY (insert) ARE PEOPLE TOO!" Wide-eyed my youth took my screeching on the drop-in floor well (all things considering), good conversations came of it and there was growth.
Since then I have been reading & meditating on ignorance, stereotyping, culture and love of people. I looove people- always have. I love watching them, hearing their stories, eating their favorite foods, seeing them grow & challenge themselves (and challenge me) and finding the individual in the stereotype. But I am far from perfect and have many stereotypes and ignorances of my own that are being called out & I am working on, we all do, I realize that.
Not to take this ridiculous entry to that cheesy level of (let's all say it) Jesus. But to in fact HAVE to because he really is the best model in this situation I find myself. Quite simply Jesus didn't buy into the stereotypes. He befriended the most diverse group of people always finding & acknowledging the individual (even when that person hid in the layers of the stereotypes). Look at how the gospels are filled with stories of how Jesus supported the person when they were in need, rebuked them when discipline was needed, he hung out (kicking it with the homies)and enjoyed people vastly different from him. This seems to be a part of what his love is. What we as Christians are called to imitate in our city.
My frustration reached its peak early this week and I lashed out to those I knew could take it, my youth. "I'M SICK OF MY FRIENDS STEREOTYPING OTHERS IN MY LIFE! THEY (insert) ARE PEOPLE TOO!" Wide-eyed my youth took my screeching on the drop-in floor well (all things considering), good conversations came of it and there was growth.
Since then I have been reading & meditating on ignorance, stereotyping, culture and love of people. I looove people- always have. I love watching them, hearing their stories, eating their favorite foods, seeing them grow & challenge themselves (and challenge me) and finding the individual in the stereotype. But I am far from perfect and have many stereotypes and ignorances of my own that are being called out & I am working on, we all do, I realize that.
Not to take this ridiculous entry to that cheesy level of (let's all say it) Jesus. But to in fact HAVE to because he really is the best model in this situation I find myself. Quite simply Jesus didn't buy into the stereotypes. He befriended the most diverse group of people always finding & acknowledging the individual (even when that person hid in the layers of the stereotypes). Look at how the gospels are filled with stories of how Jesus supported the person when they were in need, rebuked them when discipline was needed, he hung out (kicking it with the homies)and enjoyed people vastly different from him. This seems to be a part of what his love is. What we as Christians are called to imitate in our city.