Three Little Boys
Three little boys were at the park attending family reunions. One boy was from a White family and two were from a Black family. Chasing frogs, climbing trees and swinging in the playground, the boys were having a blast as new friends often do. Then they decided to introduce each other to their families. Unfriendly eyes cast disapproving glares upon the little boys at each family's table - both Black and White.
The three little boys were all between five and seven years old and the color of their skin meant nothing to them. Skin didn't matter until the joy and innocence of youth collided with the anger and pride of wounded adults. Do children really grow up innocent in a guilt-ridden society?
Two Little Girls
Recently I listened as a young father asked for my advice about raising his children. His daughter was five years old and made friends with the little girl across the street. Both girls were well behaved and respected the father. He was concerned because the neighbor girl's mother was apparently using drugs. He regarded her as a "sub-standard mother." He was considering telling his daughter that she could no longer be friends with the five year old neighbor girl. The girls were White and Black.What's Written In Your Heart?
Our brains were created as "Experience-Sponges." Synapses on the sides of our brain are imprints of our experiences. Your "tongue is a pen of a ready writer." (Psalm 45:1) Your tongue writes words in the world around you with the stories that are written on your heart. Synapses or life-experiences are etched into our brains and are connected to neurons that send thought impulses throughout our brains. The frontal lobes of our brains contains the "decision-making center." That frontal lobe does not reach maturity level until we are in our early twenties. What does that mean, especially for young people?
No matter what experience you've had in life, it is possible to renew your mind. People survive abuse, trauma and war. Some survivors live only to continue the abuse, but it doesn't have to be you. Here is some good advice from Proverbs 4:23-27 in The MessageThey make decisions based upon experiences from a mindset of immaturity.Your heart is developing a plan of action and prejudice based upon your experiences.Left unguided, prideful judgementalism like racism will seep into your life-style.
"Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust."
Renewing your mind is like filling the synapses of bad experiences with love. The people who treat you badly have soaked up lies, gossip and evil. Renew your mind by filling it with forgiveness. Study history, study racism and study prejudice, but be more diligent in your study of love. Knowing love will reveal the truth about racially prejudiced behavior. The truth will set you free.
What are your thoughts about racism?"Beautiful words fill my mind,
as I compose this song for the king.
Like the pen of a good writer
my tongue is ready with a poem."
Psalm 45:1 Good News Translation
Next: "The Elephant In The Racism Room"
Bob Kuebler is the Founder & Director of Youth With A Purpose and Mentor Force. Bob has spent the last 15 yrs. learning about pain and perseverance from inner city young people and their families. Healing starts with love and encompasses compassion and empathy. Our mission at YWAP is to inspire inner city young people to develop as God's leaders who overcome the mindset of poverty and gang violence. Bob is the Author of five books and several blogs including The Bright Spot Report. He regularly shares with audiences about how God is redeeming our cities through young people.
Bob can be reached at 716-830-8240, ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com. www.youthwithapurpose.org
Wonderful thought. A good read.
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