I recently went to see the movie "The Help" and it brought to surface some long-ago memories for me. I grew up in the deep south and remember very well the day the "colored" school was closed and "they" were brought to our school. I learned at a very young age about prejudice which was very much alive and well in South Africa where I lived as a young teen-ager. I made it a priority back then to get to know people of all color and love them for who they are, not what color they are.
It is hard to believe that people can be so ignorant and outright mean to each other. But, we are. Sometimes it's fear, sometimes it's a feeling of insecurity of one's own status in life, and sometimes it's just down-right evil at work. The color of one's skin is just one of many reasons we come up with to separate ourselves from others. For those of us who pride ourselves on not having a racial prejudice, what other prejudices might we harbor?
As I watched the movie, I realized that there are definite sub-cultures all around us. We may or may not be aware of them. I am not aware of them for the most part. So as I drove around our town this week, I made myself really see the different neighborhoods that I saw. Trailer parks, upper scale neighborhoods and "middle" income homes are all here. I made myself pay attention to my own emotions and thoughts as I drove through the different neighborhoods. In full disclosure, a confession of sorts, here is what I discovered:
Trailer parks: My first thought was, why would anyone choose to live in a trailer park? I would never choose it. Then, I took that thought captive and realized a few things. 1) I used to live in a trailer as a child. I only realized it wasn't the only way to live when I spent the night with friends who had houses that went in many different directions, not just in a rectangle :-). I wasn't unhappy and only felt inferior when others made fun of me. 2) Many people may not "choose" to live in a trailer park. That's their only affordable option. and 3) Some people do choose to live in a trailer park because they like it! In FL, there are plenty of people who have given up their big houses to live in beautiful trailer parks that become communities of friends.
Upper scale neighborhoods: I am probably more prejudiced against these! And again, I've lived in such a neighborhood. So how hypocritical is that??? Many people I know who live or have lived in such a high-priced neighborhood, have sacrificed marriages, families, and souls to keep up the appearance of living richly. Not all of course, there are many who live in good balance and can still live so extravagantly. I know many who give a lot of their fortune away and live this way. I also know that when I was living in such a neighborhood, there were some people who would not come to our house because they felt inferior, or thought we thought too highly of ourselves--even though they were invited to freely come (sounds like Christ's invitation to us to the wedding feast doesn't it?). So there is definite prejudice against the wealthy. It's especially popular and acceptable to be prejudiced against the rich these days.
Middle income neighborhoods: This is where I feel most at home. I can understand and relate to people the most in this social status. But even then, there are many struggles in these homes with the balance of work and family.
You know what I don't see in my town? Homeless. I know that sub culture is around and from what I hear, growing fast. But I don't see them. I can't relate to the homeless at all as thankfully, I've never been homeless (although, at one time when I was 14, if it weren't for a dear lady who was a great friend of my Mom, I might very well have experienced it).
Jesus spent most of His time on earth with the sub cultures of this world. He even chose to live as one of them. He brought them hope, healing, love, mercy, grace and truth. He wasn't afraid to touch the leper, eat with tax collections, defend the prostitutes, lift up the children and chastise the self-righteous. I am a follower of Christ, I need to be sure I do the same!
What's your prejudice?
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