it seems to be against our human nature to reach out when we are hurt or afraid.

instead, we build walls around our hearts and our lives, possibly to try and protect and comfort our selves.

I grew up in the South, but my parents taught us early that people that are different from us aren’t inferior– in fact, they’re probably more interesting than we are! I grew up in a tri-racial area (white, black, & Waccamaw-Souian Indian) and by high school, I’d decided that I was going to become fluent in Spanish. And probably, if we talked about immigrants’ rights, I would side with the minorities more than with American citizens. Teaching (mostly illegal) Latinos in ESL at the community college for two years gives me some insight into their lives that a lot of other gringos just don’t have. Add to this that I’ve traveled quite a bit and I’ve got a completely different worldview from most of the people I talk to on a daily basis… And all of this qualifies me to say, with a bit of authority, that we are all VERY different, but yet the same.

For anyone who doesn’t see this sameness, I would issue the challenge to go to any third world country and visit an orphanage. Walk around and look at the little faces and they’ll all show the same thing: we all need and deserve love. And that’s what we all should give. Regardless of color, gender, disability, likeability… Love is the common denominator.

In the end the result is the same: without recognizing that we are all the same, we will continue to tear each other down for being different.

I like this paragraph:
Maybe at some point they’ll all come to understand the truth about humanity. Whether they believe we’ve all evolved from the mire of the earth or were created by a loving God makes little difference here. Either way, we’re all connected. We’re all the same.

So true.

Billy I think you should try and go back and join the discussion, it is all about hearing, really hearing one another. They need to heat what you say.
Thank you for the post. These are very important things to talk about, it is a pathway I hope to each of us understanding one another and knowing as you said that we all belong to one Father.

I have seen the same trend of these groups developing even within the high school. You are right, so many of these people claim the burden of some ancestors past sufferings and burdens yet rather than move forward, they have picked up the burdens from their ancestor’s past and continue to carry it as if to say, look what my family has had to endure rather than share how far they have come.

Some people I believe will always live with their face facing the past while others will keep facing the future that has yet to be. I prefer however to keep mine facing upwards in the hope of better things to come.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

I think we *need to* see beyond our…….

oopsie.

When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:20-23

I think we see beyond our differences/sufferings/etc and close the gap between all people with one intention in mind. To help all see and know the One and Only….Jesus.