Subtle Predjudice

Not long ago, I watched a movie about William Wilberforce. (Amazing Grace was the name of it) He spent his life working to abolish slave trade. It really got me thinking about what my "cause" is? Is there anything I feel so passionately about that I'ld be willing to give up my life for? I'm not talking martyrdom - I'm talking day to day life: blood, sweat, and tears. I have always known only Christians. Besides purposely putting myself in situations for the sole purpose of evangelizing and then walking away (community Bible clubs, door to door witenessing), I have never had friendships or relationships with non-Christians. Because of this, I've never had to defend my faith. For matters outside my belief in Jesus Christ, I have either not felt strongly one way or another or I have kept my opinions to myself for the most part. There is a matter that I have grown to feel that God has been stirring in my heart for the past couple of years and that is the more subtle predjudice between the races that is still alive today. Last night, Blake and I watched a movie called Something New. It is about an African American professional woman who falls in love with the "white" man who is crazy about her despite her strong opinions NOT to have a relationship with a man outside her race. Besides the two prolonged make out scenes a and weird, seductive, interpretive dance thing we fast-forwarded through, I loved the movie just liked I loved Guess Who, Facing the Giants and any other movie that is about rising above the fears and predjudices we have about different races and truly loving people for who they are (you know like on the inside -something we church people talk about, but don't know how to do) I have been wrestling with my own thoughts down to the deepest, darkest ones in my heart. My main problem is that I have no nor have ever had a good African American friend. How can I really know that I have rid myself of all predjudice and truly come to love ALL races if I've never even really gotten to know anyone but Caucasion and Hispanic people? One fear I have is one that is shown in this movie. Brian the "white" guy, in his pursuit to truly understand African-American people and prove that he does not have a "problem" with them, offends them....often. That's my concern for myself and a reason I really wish I had a good African-American friend that loved me despite my ignorance and was willing to guide me into being a person free of predjudices and a person that all races felt totally comfortable around. The woman in the movied talks about something she calls "black tax" which means she has to work double hard to prove herself at work because she is black. I would say she has triple tax because I bet ya there's still a "woman tax" out there in the professional world too. I felt awful hearing them talk about that... its not a feel good thing to think about. I wonder why God has not let me stop thinking about these issues over the past two years? Blake and I have talked about adopting one day from another country - maybe we will eventually adopt a baby from Africa. Or maybe one of my children will marry outside their race and God is preparing my heart now to receive that person with a completly open and loving heart. Or maybe this is just something he is trying to work in all his people's hearts so that the church can be united in a way that the world will look up and notice and turn to God because of His equal love for ALL people. Do you know what God did to Miriam in Exodus when she spoke against Moses marrying an Etheopian woman - he struck her with leporsy. And only because of the prayers of Moses on her behalf did He heal her. When I see a couple that is two different races, I admit, I'm tempted to stare, but not for the reason many do. This is what I think, "Now there is someone that has risen above predjudice and been willing to see a person for who they really are." I'm curious to see how those people respond to each other and how other respond to them. Are we really as different as some people think? Maybe. But does that mean we can't have meaningful friendships/relationships with each other. I do not think so. The only reason or at least the main reason it is difficult for these relationships is because of what they have to put up with from people who are set in their ways and are not willing to work through their fears and/or pride and see the inward AND outward beauty of all people. I have a long way to go, I'm sure, and there are many other areas that I know God wants to work in, in my heart, but I am beginning to feel "passionate" about this topic and wanted to share my thoughts.