I refuse to see hate…
The whispered words fluttered from my lips into the open air. It became more like a vow than a mantra.
I refuse to see black or white or tan or brown. Instead, I will see people with beating hearts and eyes that tell life’s stories.
I refuse to see wealth or poverty; education or illiteracy. Instead, I will see souls who long to live and breathe; dream and do.
I refuse to see age or disability; inadequacy, size or features. Instead, I will see character, experience, giftedness, and talent.
I refuse to see what isn’t. Instead, I will see what can be.
Somewhere, it has to stop. The blame, the division, the retaliation, the anger. Somewhere, it has to change. Somewhere I have to view the world with a tenderness and willingness to say it isn’t enough – there’s so much more.
So much more to the story of this world. So much more in the people who live here. So much more than we are allowing because we are blinded by hatred for what is different from us.
I refuse to see hate…
Maybe if I refuse, so could you?
A simple gesture of looking beyond the outward appearance of people and looking inward at who they really are. And all the hurt would begin to heal because you and me, we decided to see differently.
I believe in Jesus Christ. Maybe you do too. Or maybe your belief system is different from mine.
My skin is white and burns in the sun. My hair is blonde with spattering of white. I’m not tall. I’ve had many failures and hurts in my life. I’ve had many successes and joys in my life. And if you knew my heart, you and I, we would be friends.
Your skin, maybe it’s darker than mine. Maybe you have no hair. You could be tall. And I’m sure your life has been similar to mine for no one is void of sorrow or pain or joy. And if I knew your heart, I bet we’d be friends too.
But in the silence of tonight, on my knees before my God, I struggle with exactly what to say to Him except how very sorry I feel.
I refuse to see hate.
Maybe tonight, you could too?
