Lots going on in my head...
Where to start?
Forgiveness and understanding are important.
Feeling uncomfortable with facts and relationships is sometimes a good thing!
To be truly reconciled to someone do you NEED all the information? OR can there be a grace that fills the void - whatever that void/space consists of?
I think yes... I used to gossip ALLOT! Mostly in HS I guess. I know me. If I don't need to know - please - have the conversation elsewhere!
I guess I want God to cover those colors I am seeing people in right now.
Grace - what color is grace?
The Color of Water

Grace to me (in this instance) is allowing you to be you and me to not stand in your way.
EVEN when I just don't get it!
True understanding cannot happen until we feel uncomfortable.

At the NWN end-of-the-month time last year we met at a very giving and resource-full church in Pasadena. The classroom they let us rent happened to NOT be the one we usually get.
Needless to say we were two doors down from an adult bible study class (or the equivalent). When we were done with our meeting and leaving we got some flack from the teacher/leader guy in that classroom.
Now - if you know NWN you can imagine to scene upon leaving. Youths running back and forth between entrance and exit, etc. Being loud because they haven't gotten to for the last hour. Which is APPROPRIATE behavior for their stage in life! Especially Jr HS and Freshman boys. And Jr HS girls - they scream... not appropriate just annoying...
So when this leader came out to shush us - it REALLY bothered me!

To exist in your little classroom my friend you shut the door and keep us out.
But the reality of it ALL - you need us for the full understanding of the gospel.
You need to feel uncomfortable for 5 minutes while we walk out of here.
It is an important message you are sending - but the WRONG one.
You can't help being white - but you can help what you say when you poke your head out of your door! Is it the same reason you live SOUTH of these youth that you poke your head out?
Do you love them - and that's why you are shushing them?
Do you fear for them - that by running back and forth they are going to hurt themselves?
Or are you worried that your meeting is being disturbed for 5 minutes.
We JUST entered this hallway - sir.
Do we make you uncomfortable?
Do you know your are missing out because you are unwilling to feel messy?
Please - close the door. I don't trust you around my youths. God's youths!
These youths belong to God. Please think about that and how you can help them know they are valued by their community.
If they just see you shushing them - how will they know?
Don't just be another face...
And have some grace... for these little ones.

I WISH I could have said that to him. He just pulled his head back into his room.
I told one of mine, "I trust you - not him. Please just be a little quieter and we can be loud when we are down stairs. You did a good job listening during our meeting. I am proud of you."

God has given us a promise... for people to be reconciled. Can that happen across generations when we don't even see it across racial lines - even in churches? You think that would be easier!
Oh - it is the economic and racial background you see that you don't want to deal with?
Yes - that is messy. But for real understanding and change you have to get dirty!

Mary and Elisabeth were given babies by God. Promises that grew inside of them - how beautiful is that! Both equally unbelievable! How they must have rejoiced when they grew large... how beautiful they must have looked! Did anyone see them? How much did they have to hide? That's why I really like Elisabeth's revelation (Luke 1:45) - Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!
In a loud voice!

God has promised us many things - directly to us! Why not this sort of grace!
Do we forget Luke 1:45 because our religion is to patriarchal? Whatever.
He has made a covenant with us, and wants us to be reconciled with one another. I saw that guy yesterday. My youth was with us, too. I pray he receives from God and is a good teacher to his class and that his classroom prospers... but that the sounds from the outside make him just uncomfortable enough that he pursues it beyond the shush, and to the person and true understanding. True grace.

Sir- what color is grace?
Does it change depending on your mood, your zip code, your bible study lesson?