3 Points to Ponder
- “Jesus’ strategy to break prejudice was simple: he ate with them. Eating with outcasts renders them acceptable. When was the last time you truly ate with people different than you?”
- “Bridging the gulf of mutual judgment is tricky as both put up walls about the other. Yet, our shared humanity can unite us when approached wrapped in humility. How can you humbly approach someone to break down a wall of judgment?”
- “When we recognize each other as equals; when we submit to one another out of respect for what Jesus has done for us; when there is not daylight between us, walls come down. Is there one relationship in your life where you need to recognize another as an equal, to break down walls and stand with one another?”
2 Quotes to Share
“It would seem that, quite possibly, the ultimate measure of health in any community might well reside in our ability to stand in awe at what folks have to carry rather than in judgment at how they carry it.” -Gregory Boyle
“From standing with each other, to standing for each other, our friendship grew stronger.” -Unknown
1 Story of Impact
Lately, there has been a lot of talk about taking a stand. On a weekly basis, someone will ask “Where do you stand on (insert latest hot take issue)?” This past week, I had the privilege to visit Homeboy Industries in downtown Los Angeles. In 2019, I gave a sermon called Bent by Prejudice and I closed with a powerful story about Mario, a Homie at Homeboy. You see, Mario has an incredible amount of tattoos, even with “The End” tattooed on his eyelids so when he dies, there is no doubt. He grew up in the South Central L.A. gangs, filled with drugs, sex, and crime. He landed at Homeboy and now is a story of redemption. So, when I visited Homeboy, three years later to the day after giving this sermon, who was the first person standing in the lobby when I walked in? Mario. Our eyes locked, which is weird to say given I am a 6’4”, 42-year-old white guy from Iowa and he is a 6’0”, 30-something Latino from the hood. We couldn’t be more different. Yet, we had a beautiful conversation together. One of those real conversations beyond the easy, shiny stuff. At the end of our chat, I told Mario about my sermon and how his story moved me and God used it to break down walls all the way in Iowa. He was moved as well. That is the power of standing with people. Today, I choose not to claim where I stand on issues, but instead, I choose to stand with the broken, the hurt, and the marginalized – the people who look different than me. For when I stand with people, our shared humanity has a chance to break down the walls of hate, fear, and division. This can only happen when I am present with people; when I can hear their story and they hear mine. In your life right now, where are you choosing to put your energy- into standing on the right side of an issue or with people? When is the last time you spent significant time with someone who thinks, acts, or grew up differently? Did you truly listen to their story?
