As I think about the different people that exsist around me, and the different cultures around the world (and diversity that exsists even within the different cultures)-- it's mind-boggeling! I could never even begin to count all the various types of cultures around the world! Isn't it a beautiful picture of the diversity of our Creator? He not only created trees and flowers-- He created a variety of different kinds of trees and flowers :) There are different kinds of animals, differences within the ocean ( the Pacific different than the Atlantic, the Atlantic different than the Indian, etc.--although, looking at a globe, you can see it's all one connected piece of water). He made a difference in the seasons and even in the stars...all the way down to dirt and grass, you can find a variety of different kinds. Everything He created, He created a variety within. BEAUTIFUL! How amazing is His creation! 'And it is good'... when our Creator looked at all He had created, He must have been pleased, because the Scripture tells us "And GOD saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good..." (Gen.1:31).
Now most of us would think of ourselves as being pretty accepting of the differences surrounding us. And maybe some of us are... but do we realize the depth of that acceptance? Yes, we can accept someone of a "different gender" or of a "different nationality"... maybe even a "different denomination"... some may even go so far as to accept someone of a "different religion". We all have a different degree of acceptance, a different measuring stick that we use to 'judge' others, so we can accurately put them in the "appropriate group" [or box] that we deem as "right". Sometimes we tend to judge quite harshly--casting out every one that is different than us.
This world is made up of so many DIFFERENT kinds of people: different personalities, different gifts and talents, different opinions, different interests, different 'ways of looking at things' , and the list goes on... If we could see these differences 'as good', if we could see these differences as another variety of YHWH's creation-- then maybe we could more easily embrace others, in genuine love and acceptance, and release the brightness of the light of YHWH into the world... what a glory to our Father!
The words to a song I have posted on my "Journey" page come to mind (all the words are worth listening to, but I will use the second verse), it says:
"When we have loosened all the heavy chains that bind us,
When we can leave behind the hatred and the strife,
When we rejoice in all the differences among us...
Then we shall truly know the beauty of this life"
('One Beautiful Day' ~ Front Range)
*May we truly know the beauty of this life!
Now most of us would think of ourselves as being pretty accepting of the differences surrounding us. And maybe some of us are... but do we realize the depth of that acceptance? Yes, we can accept someone of a "different gender" or of a "different nationality"... maybe even a "different denomination"... some may even go so far as to accept someone of a "different religion". We all have a different degree of acceptance, a different measuring stick that we use to 'judge' others, so we can accurately put them in the "appropriate group" [or box] that we deem as "right". Sometimes we tend to judge quite harshly--casting out every one that is different than us.
This world is made up of so many DIFFERENT kinds of people: different personalities, different gifts and talents, different opinions, different interests, different 'ways of looking at things' , and the list goes on... If we could see these differences 'as good', if we could see these differences as another variety of YHWH's creation-- then maybe we could more easily embrace others, in genuine love and acceptance, and release the brightness of the light of YHWH into the world... what a glory to our Father!
The words to a song I have posted on my "Journey" page come to mind (all the words are worth listening to, but I will use the second verse), it says:
"When we have loosened all the heavy chains that bind us,
When we can leave behind the hatred and the strife,
When we rejoice in all the differences among us...
Then we shall truly know the beauty of this life"
('One Beautiful Day' ~ Front Range)
*May we truly know the beauty of this life!
RSS Feed
