This past week was not an easy one for me. It was filled with lessons of power and weakness, wealth and poverty. It all started with a trip to Heifer International in Perryville, AR.
Our school group of fifteen arrived at the Heifer Ranch on May 5th with all of our modern conveniences and unjust stereotypes in hand and in mind. The next day, May 6th, our electronics and other "must-haves" were stripped away from us and we were left with one another and a sleeping bag (we had more than that, but I'm being dramatic). For me, at least, coping with the loss of material things was not so big a problem as my realizing that I have formed prejudices against a certain group of people.
For a long time, I have lumped people who are "intolerant" into one group. I have given them a name--the "oppressor"--and a description--(mainly) white, (primarily) male, lower-middle class, with a strong Southern accent. Before I really even talk to them I put them in a box. I label them "racists," "gay-bashers," and "chauvenists." But before last week, I didn't notice the difference in my attitude towards them... Not until one of "them" pointed it out. In this case, I had labeled him as hating impoverished people; and, honestly, he probably did not like them too much. He made comments like, "If they don't work, they don't deserve to eat" and "If you live in poverty, then you will be happy in it because you know nothing else." However, that was not an excuse... And, I know that. Basically, in my desire for us to be equal, for people to love one another regardless of their sin habits or prejudices or whatever, I made the oppressor the oppressed. I took on the role of the oppressor. While I didn't beat him or hinder him from becoming a better person, I did not love him with the love of Christ.
Right now I am trying to figure out how to love people equally regardless of everything, including their worldview (and Southern drawl).
The Recovering Despot,
Margaret
