Ever since Pastor Howard preached a few weeks ago about racial reconciliation, I’ve been thinking more and more about how diversity is one of our (when I say our, I mean us as a species) greatest strength. Most people make the wrong assumption that it divides, but that’s only because we allow it to. (If you missed the sermon, don’t forget you can listen to it online by visiting our website! We had some issues that prevented us from uploading, but it is now fixed and we’re caught up.)
The simple truth is by working together in harmony, we create something beautiful, something God intended all along. This is perfectly illustrated by a story I stumbled on last week in my web travels. I’m pasting it here in the hopes that it will help remind us of the beauty we’re capable of as God’s children when we work together across all sorts of racial, sexual, age, ability, and whatever else boundaries. It is simply titled “The Colors of the World.”
A tale of acceptance and diversity, adapted from Native American legend…
It is said that once the different colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite:
GREEN said:
“Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, leaves – without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”
BLUE interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”
YELLOW chuckled:
“You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and pawpaws. I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”
RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you – I am blood – life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
PURPLE rose up to full height and yelled with great pomp:
“I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me – they listen and obey.”
Finally, INDIGO spoke, quietly, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening – thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: “You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.”
So, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
colorsdiversityharmonyracereconciliationstrength
The Colors of the World
January 28, 2010
Calvary
Comments Off on The Colors of the World
Matt
Ever since Pastor Howard preached a few weeks ago about racial reconciliation, I’ve been thinking more and more about how diversity is one of our (when I say our, I mean us as a species) greatest strength. Most people make the wrong assumption that it divides, but that’s only because we allow it to. (If you missed the sermon, don’t forget you can listen to it online by visiting our website! We had some issues that prevented us from uploading, but it is now fixed and we’re caught up.)
The simple truth is by working together in harmony, we create something beautiful, something God intended all along. This is perfectly illustrated by a story I stumbled on last week in my web travels. I’m pasting it here in the hopes that it will help remind us of the beauty we’re capable of as God’s children when we work together across all sorts of racial, sexual, age, ability, and whatever else boundaries. It is simply titled “The Colors of the World.”
A tale of acceptance and diversity, adapted from Native American legend…
It is said that once the different colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite:
GREEN said:
“Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, leaves – without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”
BLUE interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”
YELLOW chuckled:
“You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and pawpaws. I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”
RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you – I am blood – life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
PURPLE rose up to full height and yelled with great pomp:
“I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me – they listen and obey.”
Finally, INDIGO spoke, quietly, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening – thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: “You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.”
So, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
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colorsdiversityharmonyracereconciliationstrength