I have to remind myself of how much God has blessed my life. I am taken back by how people can be so cruel to each other. I understand that, with so much going on with the economy- gas prices and the rise of unemployment- that there’s pressure to just ‘not care’.  Five years ago, I was laid off at the bank when my job was outsourced overseas. At that moment, I became angry and discouraged as I watched foreigners come into the Charlotte area and fill many positions at the bank.

Although personally, I am not a prejudiced person, I did feel a ‘tinge’ of resentment rolling around in my spirit towards these people. To make a long story short,  I knew I couldn’t walk around with such an ugliness inside me, and soon I fell back on my faith in Jesus Christ to give me guidance.  Soon, God helped me overcome this inner hurdle by moving upon me with a sense of compassion for the people I had seen as ‘intruders’.  The truth was, they were doing the best that they could to make a living for themselves and their families.  I would have done the same if I had been in their shoes. What I find ironic is that we all live on this big ‘blue ball’ of a planet and we all have the SAME basic needs in life. We make great efforts to hang onto our cultures, religions, and traditions yet, it is these very things that keep us divided.

The Bible poses this question in Amos 3V3: ‘Can two walk together unless they are agreed?’ I grew up in a small town in New York, where everyone seemed much the same. As I came into young adulthood, and began to travel from home, I was drawn to the diversity in people. Simply put, I love people! When I went away to college, I was like a kid in a candy store!  I met so many interesting people there and I could listen for hours to their stories, viewpoints and experiences.
    

Call me naïve, but how anyone can be prejudiced is beyond me! I don’t wear a halo, I am sure that I have a few prejudices of my own that I must deal with. It’s only because we are human and it stems from an internal need to feel significant in our lives. We thrive on the knowledge that we are special or better than someone else. It brings with it a false sense of security. Paul says in Philippians 2:3 ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.’  

When I treat people with respect regardless of what I feel that they deserve I know that I make myself better as a person. I am not saying that the emotions are not there; it just makes me a better person because I truly believe in my boomerang theory. My boomerang theory is simple. Whatever you throw out there to people will eventually return back to you! So if sow seeds of anger, violence, and manipulation then you will, without a doubt, reap a harvest in kind.  

If you sow seeds of respect, kindness, compassion and forgiveness you will benefit from a never ending good harvest. So, I encourage you.  If you are struggling with issues of anger, fear, prejudice, unforgiveness, or any negative behavior, I strongly encourage you to not ‘boomerang’ yourself.  Jesus was, and still is, our greatest example in dealing with people. Start by reading the book of John and you will see his example as it jumps right off the pages! Be careful where you throw that boomerang!

Article by Sgt. Roy Lewis