"I'm not being racist, but..."

Lately, the issue of racism has come up several times around me. From doctors and family members, to random people, I have heard so many conversations about people acting the way they do because of their color or thinking that all people of a color act that way.

People! Are we not past this?

Are there lazy people? Yes.  Are there people who abuse our government and tax money? Yes.  Are there people who don't work when they could? Yes. Are there people that take what they get for granted? Yes.  Are there people that judge others because of their financial status? Yes.  Are there people that judge people because of their color? Yes.

Jesus calls us to love.  LOVE! No matter what.

- The homeless man on the street who looks physically fit to work to my eyes - I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING THROUGH!

- The person who uses food stamps - I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.

I will not be scared of someone because of their color.  You might laugh at me saying this, but so many people I know won't go to that African American or Mexican neighborhood because of the color of people living there.  I am not saying that we need to throw caution to the wind and go into dangerous situations, but white people can rape, white people can kill, white people can sell you drugs.

Sorry guys, I am on a rant, but this is so frustrating to me.  I am a Caucasian raised in the south and therefore, I was raised in this racist atmosphere.  I struggle with it almost on a daily basis.  I CHOOSE not to be racist.  Not to think differently about someone because of their color, monetary status, chosen profession or lack thereof.

Guys, people do wrong.   I do wrong.  I am not saying that "living off the system" is right.  I am just saying, let's leave judging and being racist out of the equation.

So many people have fought for our freedom in this country.  The freedom from other countries, the freedom from oppressive religion, the freedom from OWNING OTHER PEOPLE, and the freedom of being able to live without being stereotyped.

Let's live a life of peace, a life of non-judgement, a life of happiness with ourselves and others.  Jesus does not only call us to love the people who are easy to get along with, the righteous, the rich, the ones that are the right color, the ones with the right job.  NO, JESUS CALLS US TO LOVE THOSE THAT ARE DIFFERENT.  TO EMBRACE THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW BETTER.  TO ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT DON'T SEE ANOTHER WAY.  JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE.

This week I am going to work on loving more and judging less, will you join me? Please leave your comments and I will try to explain better if something I said was unclear.

Until then, Love until it hurts AND THEN LOVE MORE!