My Hot Button - Tracy Krauss

When Sandi Somers suggested this month's topic almost a year ago, I doubt she had a crystal ball, but when we look around us at the world today, it seems more timely than ever. There is one issue that has always been my 'hot button' topic and that is racism. It is probably the one thing that sets my blood boiling. 

I am a fairly tolerant person. Some people don't like the word 'tolerance' because they feel it smacks of being wishy-washy; not standing up for what is right. I will admit that in most cases, I prefer not to stir the pot and can let some things slide. I try not to "sweat the small stuff." 

BUT, as any of my past students can attest, there was (and is) one thing I would not tolerate - ever. Racism. Even "jokes" or what might seem to some as just a passing comment, were called to account. It didn't matter who the slur was directed at - or even it it was directed at no one in particular - I addressed it. 

Racism is ugly. It is also indiscriminate. 

A few years ago I submitted a piece to The Upper Room.  I felt privileged when it got published in the summer of 2019. It was based on an incident that happened to a close friend of mine who lives in Winnipeg. He also happens to be Cree. Here is the UR mediation below:

A Real Life Samaritan

Read Luke 10: 30 -37

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. (Luke 10:33 NIV)

A good friend was mugged one evening after getting off a city bus. He normally projects a rather intimidating figure, but he was using a cane because of a painful abdominal condition. Apparently, his vulnerability made him an easy target.

Unfortunately, no one came to his aid immediately until two young men arrived on the scene. They chased the mugger away, called 911, and then sat with him until the ambulance arrived. The thing that struck my friend the most was that these two young men were immigrant Muslims. While no one else would stop to help, it was two unlikely looking strangers who showed him true kindness, despite the cultural differences. It was a poignant reminder to avoid making judgements based on outward appearance or cultural expectations.

In Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, the two people that should have stopped to help did not, while the ‘unlikely candidate’ did. Perhaps we could all benefit from taking a look at the way we view others, no matter their background or the colour of their skin. When we look through Jesus' eyes, we see each person as He sees them – made in the image of the Creator. 

Thought for the day: Every person has value in God’s eyes.

_________________

The thing that didn't make it into this account was the fact that my friend was a victim, not only of the mugger, but of racism. He is a husky, strong, obviously First Nations man. Because he had just had surgery he was using a cane and he was in a lot of pain. He said that no one helped him when the mugging was happening and then people passing by took a wide berth. In his words, "Everyone thought I was just another drunk Indian." 

Honestly, I am actually crying as I write this. My eyes are so blurry I can hardly see the keyboard! That description does not fit my friend. He is a compassionate and hard working person. But here is the thing that really makes me cry: Even if he WAS drunk and homeless, that doesn't make him less deserving of basic human dignity! 

People's worth is not about the colour of their skin, but human value also has nothing to do with socio-economic status, or current situation. THIS is what truly breaks my heart! 

I'm glad that governments are trying to bring about reconciliation and that people are being educated about racial inequalities. However, I'm not sure that government legislation is going to make much difference. I believe it starts in the hearts of people. Each individual must look inside themselves and make a conscious effort NOT to judge others, no matter how they appear or what the circumstances. 

_________________

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC. She is currently serving as InScribe's president. Visit her website for more: tracykrauss.com -fiction on the edge without crossing the line-

Love God, Your Neighbour, and Yourself By Sharon Espeseth

Who Is Testing Whom?

"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" the law expert asked to test Jesus.

"What is written in the Law?" Jesus asked. "How do you read it?"

Confidently the man responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself."

"You have answered correctly," Jesus responded.
"Do this and you will live."

Testing the Master further, the man asked, "And who is my neighbour?"

Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who helped the man beaten, robbed, and left for dead. The priest didn't help the man. Nor did the Levite. But the Samaritan did. Samaritans, considered pagans or "half-Jews," were held in contempt by the Jews.

Jesus asked the law-abiding Jew, which of the three men would he consider a neighbour to the robbers' victim. "The one who showed mercy," the man answered.

"Go and do likewise," Jesus answered. (Luke 10: 25-37)

Go and Do Likewise

That's what Jesus asks us to do, even if doing so is uncomfortable. We are to show mercy to people in need, be that physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial. Jesus warned that there's nothing outstanding about loving those who love us; the challenge comes when that person is unkind, unreasonable, or unsavoury. Jesus asks us to love our enemies and pray for those who don't treat us well.

This kind of loving is difficult and God is well aware of that. Discussing the topic of "Christian Perfection" in My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers clarifies that Christian perfection is different than human perfection. (December 2) In this devotion, he explains that if we strive on our own to attain that kind of perfection, our efforts will all be to our own glory. Then a person might think, If I could be so loving and perfect, I don't need God.

". . . Love your neighbour as yourself."

Looking in the Concordance of my NIV Bible, I find the phrase, " . . . love your neighbour as yourself" in six books of the Bible: once in Leviticus and five times in the New Testament. Important concepts bear repeating. We know God wasn't encouraging us to love ourselves in a proud, self-absorbed way.

In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), Jesus shares ideas of how we should be in the world. Life will not always be "rosy," but God will bless us even, or especially, in adversity. Because this chapter is familiar to us, we often read it quickly. I recently read the passage in Eugene Peterson's The Message. Here the words jumped off the page, so I read and reread this portion prayerfully over several days.

Blessings on the Poor in Spirit

Even as Christians, we can berate ourselves for not being patient enough, smart enough, courageous enough, talented . . . Most of us have been poor in spirit at times in our lives. Peterson, a Greek scholar and theologian, paraphrases Christ's words, "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

What does it mean to be meek? For this verse, Peterson says, "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

If these verses comfort you, read The Beatitudes in The Message online. If we can learn to accept ourselves for who we are and do for God what we can, we'll realize we don't have to go around apologizing and hiding our real selves. 

Oswald Chambers says, "God's purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants." That's what I can do: spend more time with my loving Creator, read His Word, and let Him guide me.




Prayer: Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will.