We Are the Same
Back home in Arkansas, again.
For the past four years, I haven't spend more than four weeks at a time at home. Usually about every three weeks, I'm packing up my stuff again, and driving off to some other place to continue living for another three weeks. Then I'm home for a short time, and then gone again. Packing has become a science, and I've learned how to survive with as few things as possible.
I was studying an atlas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico this morning, and it surprised me just how many states and towns I've been to. It's quite an inordinate amount for someone who's only been around for twenty-two years. Actually, most of the traveling has been in the last seven years. I've ridden in cars, buses, airplanes, and boats for thousands and thousands of miles. Probably driven a few thousand myself, with canvassing. Walked for many many miles, too. Talked thousands of strangers.
Been part-way around the globe a few times.
It's amazing. I've never seen a car accident happen. Never witnessed any violence. Never seen someone die. Only seen a lot of people living their lives together and separately.
I'm a watcher, more than a doer. There's nothing more intriguing to me than waiting in a public place and watching people live, or sitting outside and watching animals behave. Maybe that sounds lazy or extremely boring to you, but that's how I learn a lot of information and make meaning out of my life.
I watch my world, internalize what I see, process it, and then order my own actions according to my own internal values system. I've learned a lot about humanity from watching, and realized a very simple but possibly revolutionary truth.
Think about that. Yea...
Ok, I know it's abstract. I'll break it down for you.
What I've noticed is that no matter where I go, whether it be Korea or Florida, people are remarkably similar to each other. There are cultural differences of course, but overall, Koreans aren't really a different species than Americans. Duh.
You might be wondering why this could be a revolutionary truth.
What I'm saying is that Nationality, Gender, Culture, Race, so on, are not different species.
A human is a human is a human. Everyone has the breath of God in them, and He gives them each heart beat. Everyone knows how to smile, to laugh, to cry, to care.
By pushing others away as too different, we are losing our humanity.
Celebrities are people, just like homeless people are people. The President of the United States is a man, just like the garbage collector is a man. Princess Diana was a woman, just like the cashier at Walmart is a woman. WE ARE ALL FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME.
Don't freak out. What I'm saying is that we have no right to base people's worth on their nationality, gender, culture, or race, because people are all worth the same amount. Nobody is better than anyone else. You can't make yourself a better human by doing awesome things or fulfilling your dreams.
I know this is the opposite of what most believe, but the truth is that our worth is not based on who we are or what we have done. Our worth is based on the price our Creator put on us.
Jesus would have died for even one person, irregardless of his or her color, age, religion or race. Obviously then, each person is worth the life of God, the Ruler of the Universe.
Think about that the next time you feel intimidated in the presence of a "superior", "holy", "successful" person. Think about that they next time you want to stereotype someone based on their gender or race or color. Think about that as you interact with your family members, friends, and strangers.
The only thing keeping us apart are the barriers we've created in our own minds.
People are people. Let's treat ourselves and everyone else with dignity, for we are all the same.
God loves and longs to save us all.
For the past four years, I haven't spend more than four weeks at a time at home. Usually about every three weeks, I'm packing up my stuff again, and driving off to some other place to continue living for another three weeks. Then I'm home for a short time, and then gone again. Packing has become a science, and I've learned how to survive with as few things as possible.
I was studying an atlas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico this morning, and it surprised me just how many states and towns I've been to. It's quite an inordinate amount for someone who's only been around for twenty-two years. Actually, most of the traveling has been in the last seven years. I've ridden in cars, buses, airplanes, and boats for thousands and thousands of miles. Probably driven a few thousand myself, with canvassing. Walked for many many miles, too. Talked thousands of strangers.
Been part-way around the globe a few times.
It's amazing. I've never seen a car accident happen. Never witnessed any violence. Never seen someone die. Only seen a lot of people living their lives together and separately.
I'm a watcher, more than a doer. There's nothing more intriguing to me than waiting in a public place and watching people live, or sitting outside and watching animals behave. Maybe that sounds lazy or extremely boring to you, but that's how I learn a lot of information and make meaning out of my life.
I watch my world, internalize what I see, process it, and then order my own actions according to my own internal values system. I've learned a lot about humanity from watching, and realized a very simple but possibly revolutionary truth.
People are people.
Ok, I know it's abstract. I'll break it down for you.
What I've noticed is that no matter where I go, whether it be Korea or Florida, people are remarkably similar to each other. There are cultural differences of course, but overall, Koreans aren't really a different species than Americans. Duh.
You might be wondering why this could be a revolutionary truth.
What I'm saying is that Nationality, Gender, Culture, Race, so on, are not different species.
A human is a human is a human. Everyone has the breath of God in them, and He gives them each heart beat. Everyone knows how to smile, to laugh, to cry, to care.
By pushing others away as too different, we are losing our humanity.
Celebrities are people, just like homeless people are people. The President of the United States is a man, just like the garbage collector is a man. Princess Diana was a woman, just like the cashier at Walmart is a woman. WE ARE ALL FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME.
Don't freak out. What I'm saying is that we have no right to base people's worth on their nationality, gender, culture, or race, because people are all worth the same amount. Nobody is better than anyone else. You can't make yourself a better human by doing awesome things or fulfilling your dreams.
I know this is the opposite of what most believe, but the truth is that our worth is not based on who we are or what we have done. Our worth is based on the price our Creator put on us.
Jesus would have died for even one person, irregardless of his or her color, age, religion or race. Obviously then, each person is worth the life of God, the Ruler of the Universe.
Think about that the next time you feel intimidated in the presence of a "superior", "holy", "successful" person. Think about that they next time you want to stereotype someone based on their gender or race or color. Think about that as you interact with your family members, friends, and strangers.
The only thing keeping us apart are the barriers we've created in our own minds.
People are people. Let's treat ourselves and everyone else with dignity, for we are all the same.
God loves and longs to save us all.
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