May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. —2 Corinthians 13:14
I grew up in an all-white world. As an undergrad, I went to an all-white college (essentially). The all too familiar lyrics I learned as a five-year-old frame my theology to this day: they are yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.
At 28, I heard a call-in viewer on a TV talk show say that he was a racist. At the time, I was 28. How can this be? I wondered (and still wonder) with alarm. Didn’t he know the Sunday school song?
I still live in an all-white world. Two days ago, while grocery shopping, I met two people in two different aisles whose color made my heart skip a beat. Literally. Do I say something? Look away? Pretend everything is okay when it is not? Are they mad at me? Are they scared right now? Are the angry? Grieving? Just looking for their box of cereal in aisle 14?
It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul, but I don’t know. These masks hide a lot. Maybe I hide a lot—from myself. Maybe the mask I wear is really over my eyes in that I don’t see a lot.
As a first-year seminarian in Boston, a discussion group lead by a TA of color predominantly consisted of native Korean women. In a room of twelve, I had to take off my mask (my blinders) each week. With the other Caucasian male in the room, I realized I had been walking through doors of privilege I didn’t even know were there. I still walk through those doors.
All means all. This is what Paul is saying in his final words to the church in Corinth. Inequality exists. Paul knew this. Paul also provides a way through this by living grace, loving God, and seeking, defending, advocating and protesting this weekend for what IS possible, and that is a no doors fellowship and love for all.
PRAYER: Lord, in this red, yellow, black and white world of Yours, may we realize all does mean all. When we buy our next box of Cheerios, and in those similar, simple, every day moves, may we see without masks doors that can disappear. Amen.