Here at ****** we have experienced yet another week of “multiculturalism”, “multi-ethnic programs”, “diversity awareness”, or whatever you would choose to call it. Take your pick because each title is pretty much the same.
Yet, I believe that if we seriously desire unity within our community, Jean Vanier’s From Brokenness to Community helps to point the way. It does not and will not give us a formula to follow or a how-to but a deeper understanding of ourselves and our fellowman.
However, I must warn you, it will challenge you. It will stretch you. It will cause you to rethink yourself and the God we profess to serve. It will make you uncomfortable to call yourself a Christian if you are wearing a mask or doing the Christian life by quantifying your spirituality.
Vanier describes community but what got me was his concept of communion. He defines communion as "love and friendship"..."Communion means accepting people just as they are, with all their limits and inner pain, but also with their gifts and their beauty and their capacity to grow: to see their beauty inside of all the pain. In the relationship of communion, you are you and I am I; I have my identity and you have yours. I must be myself and you must be yourself. We are called to grow together, each one becoming more fully himself or herself” (16-7).
Knowing and loving people as they are, this type of communion and not community, is what we should strive for. Community is nice and good, but communion with one another–that would blow my mind. We could be a bunch of Jesus-loving, radical-about-people, world changers. And you ask, “How would Vanier’s idea of communion be possible?”
“We can only truly love people who are different, we can only discover that difference is a treasure and not a threat, if in some way our hearts are becoming enfolded in the heart of the Father, if somewhere God is putting into our broken hearts that love that is in God’s own heart for each and every human being ” (20-1).
It is by knowing people, first and foremost, with God’s love for them that will transform our community. And no matter how highly we think of ourselves, I know I’m not there yet. There are times I resist God’s love for others and its continual attempts to enfold my selfish, conceited, egocentric heart. And no matter how much I choose the weaker impulse (God’s desire for me to love my spiritual brother or sister), there are just as many times or more that I choose the stronger (my fleshly desire).
Showing posts with label diversity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diversity. Show all posts
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
"Multi-Ethnic" chapel
A friend of mine asked me to read her thoughts before she posted them on the Wittenburg door at our small Christian school. I thought they were really good and want to share them with you:
I am writing to express my opinion about Chapel Service on Monday, February 12th, 2007. The description of this chapel in the given chapel guide was “Unity within Community: Faculty Perspective”. I believe the faculty and staff chosen by the Multi-Ethnic Services poorly represented the diversity of our campus. The faculty/staff presented in the following order: Professor Beth, Professor Derrick, Dr. Christian, and Professor Theodore. If we look closely at this selection, the racial demographics are as follows (and in this order of appearance): Caucasian-American female, African male, Caucasian-American male, and Black-American male.
The question that came to my mind was: Is this campus just black and white? And I pondered carefully, and the answer is: NO. There are students who can be represented by faculty and staff who are not Caucasian-American or Black-American. Here are just a few examples and the cultures they represent:
Professor R...........Finland
Professor M..........Spain
Professor W..........China
Professor M..........Romania
Professor S...........Indonesia
Krista W................Hawaii
Each of these faculty and staff has a story to tell, and they are neither Black-American nor Caucasian-American. They are from Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
This week, we are to “celebrate” unity within community. I urge you that it is not a white versus black issue. This is a campus full of life, of many different people, of different countries, and states within the United States. Skin color does not define culture. For an example: some people are from different countries but do not have that stereotypical appearance. Today's chapel, of a faculty/staff perspective, should have fully represented the diversity of the student body.
I urge you to look beyond skin color and ethnic background, for these two elements are not everything. I urge you to pay closer attention to the way people are inside, not outside. The old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies in this situation and we can apply it [here]: “Don’t judge a person by their skin or ethnic background.”
I urge you to get to know other students, faculty or staff on this campus who are seemingly different than you. Look into their hearts. Look to understand what they think and feel and why they think and feel that way.
Here at ******, we have the privilege of experiencing a slice of God’s unique diversity through the many professors, faculty, staff and students represented. Unity within Community is about everybody, no matter where you are from. Every culture and race should be represented.
I am writing to express my opinion about Chapel Service on Monday, February 12th, 2007. The description of this chapel in the given chapel guide was “Unity within Community: Faculty Perspective”. I believe the faculty and staff chosen by the Multi-Ethnic Services poorly represented the diversity of our campus. The faculty/staff presented in the following order: Professor Beth, Professor Derrick, Dr. Christian, and Professor Theodore. If we look closely at this selection, the racial demographics are as follows (and in this order of appearance): Caucasian-American female, African male, Caucasian-American male, and Black-American male.
The question that came to my mind was: Is this campus just black and white? And I pondered carefully, and the answer is: NO. There are students who can be represented by faculty and staff who are not Caucasian-American or Black-American. Here are just a few examples and the cultures they represent:
Professor R...........Finland
Professor M..........Spain
Professor W..........China
Professor M..........Romania
Professor S...........Indonesia
Krista W................Hawaii
Each of these faculty and staff has a story to tell, and they are neither Black-American nor Caucasian-American. They are from Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
This week, we are to “celebrate” unity within community. I urge you that it is not a white versus black issue. This is a campus full of life, of many different people, of different countries, and states within the United States. Skin color does not define culture. For an example: some people are from different countries but do not have that stereotypical appearance. Today's chapel, of a faculty/staff perspective, should have fully represented the diversity of the student body.
I urge you to look beyond skin color and ethnic background, for these two elements are not everything. I urge you to pay closer attention to the way people are inside, not outside. The old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies in this situation and we can apply it [here]: “Don’t judge a person by their skin or ethnic background.”
I urge you to get to know other students, faculty or staff on this campus who are seemingly different than you. Look into their hearts. Look to understand what they think and feel and why they think and feel that way.
Here at ******, we have the privilege of experiencing a slice of God’s unique diversity through the many professors, faculty, staff and students represented. Unity within Community is about everybody, no matter where you are from. Every culture and race should be represented.
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