We are All Beautiful Creations, Too

I looked out the window and saw a robin, and I said aloud, “Hello, fellow earth dweller. Don’t you look beautiful with that red breast!” I thought about how gorgeous God made every creation. Then, it hit me: Human beings are beautiful as well.

Then, as I walked with Douglas as he played disc golf, we heard frogs at the stream. I stopped and listened to the frog chorus, and it made my day wonderful. It reminded me that we can all make someone’s day and spread peace.

In spite of the violence of hate that led to the shootings in New Zealand, I still believe in the goodness of the majority of people. I think that more people want to see love displayed than wish to do harm to others simply because of a perception of difference which has become an excuse for dehumanizations. Once you objectify other human beings, by seeing only race, gender, age, religion, or immigrant status, and equating those characteristics as all that matters, you set up an an environment in which people come to think that killing the “others” as God’s work.

The admonition from God in Leviticus 19:34 states, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Doing God’s work is to be loving to everyone, whether or not you agree with their way of worship.

I am optimistic that the hate spewing around the world, mostly due to immigration, will not become the normal. There should be enough of us who want to spread love and tolerance to overcome this pattern. But we cannot put our light under a bushel, not allowing our lights to shine in the darkness of xenophobia. We must speak up, in our votes or through protest, and we must declare that hateful language and stereotypes that engender divisions are not acceptable. Empty words do not help!

I truly believe that the tide will turn away from seeing immigrants, especially immigrants of color, as enemies of native people. We will begin to remember that we are all God’s children, each just trying our best to live life as full as possible, seeking the best lives for our children and families. We need to Ben wiling to help others bail water when they find themselves in war zones or other situations not conducive to a good life.

Like the frogs and the birds, we are beautiful creations who have voices meant to help other human beings feel wanted and give them a sense of peace. Working together, we can turn the hate around. Lord, let it start with me!

Fandango prompt is Division. Ragtag prompt is Bail. https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/rdp-sunday-bail/Word of the Day is Empty.