In High School my three best friends were a Muslim from Afghanistan, an African-American like myself, and a boy of Chinese descent. My wife is Caucasian and my children are mixed. Growing up, we were the only African-American family in the neighborhood. I’ve always been a pretty smart guy and that placed me in many gifted and magnet classes where I was usually one of five African-American students. This was and sometimes still is my normal and I believe my interaction with people of every ethnicity has been extremely beneficial to my ability to be successful thus far.
When it was time for me to head off to college, I had the opportunity to attend one of most celebrated institutions of higher learning in the United States, referred to by some as “the Ivy of the south.” At the time, it was ranked as the #1 public university academically. Although it was difficult at times, I am proud to say that I graduated from this institution – the University of Virginia. This makes the recent events in Charlottesville, VA, all the more personal for me. Although this gross display of racism occurred at UVA, the underlying sentiments are not unique to Charlottesville or even the South. I will not take this opportunity to speak to any political views. I will simply say our differences are our greatest strength if we take the time to understand them.
When I say differences, I’m not referring to outward appearance. In fact less than .01% of our genetic makeup determines outward appearance. ”Race is a social concept, not a scientific one,” said Dr. J. Craig Venter, head of the Celera Genomics Corporation in Rockville, Md. This means genetically we have many more similarities than differences. And this is exactly what you should expect to find when there is a common Creator. Genesis 1:26-27 reads, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” “Man” here is the human race. It is all of us. It is the origin in which our equality is rooted.
UNIQUE POSITION
Purpose and positioning are similar but not the same. You could know your purpose but still not operate in it or submit it in the proper place. Likewise, you could be properly positioned where God needs you to be but if you don’t know your purpose you will be ineffective or frustrated in that place. Either way, you are off. Every human being, many of whom don’t realize it, has been strategically positioned by God where they are in the world to do the work that He has called them to do. Therefore, if you are positioned amongst people that don’t look like you there is a reason. It would be better for us to understand our positioning rather than to fight with those around us.
UNIQUE PEOPLE
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:11, “For there is no partiality with God.” We are all equally unique and uniquely the same. As people living together on this earth it behooves us to figure out ways to win collectively instead of winning in segments. One group does not have to compete to win. There is no trophy or prize for best or loudest or most violent social group. There is but one prize, which is “an imperishable crown” (1 Cor. 9:25b). It is only awarded to those individuals who can discipline themselves, protect their testimony and bring glory to their Creator.
UNIQUE PURPOSE
It will be very difficult to fulfill your purpose in life if you cannot work with, live with, or fellowship with people of all hues. If you truly believe in the value of your vision or business idea, then it should be shared with all people. In order for this to happen we all have to learn to focus on the 99.9% of ourselves that we have in common with each other and commit to completing our own assignment while we aid our brother or sister in completing theirs. Whenever we feel the need to suppress one group of people in order to get ahead, we have missed the fact that your purpose is within you, which means no one but you can own it.
“That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” – Jesus