Vicious Stereotypes

  It happened again today.  It's a scenario I've become familiar with over the last eight months.  It always starts innocently, a few people are gathered around talking about dogs, and someone will ask me what kind of dogs I have.  I begin listing them off, and I always wait to see people's reaction... husky shepherd mix, rat terrier mix, and a pit bull.  It's then that I often see the crinkling of the face, the frowning expression.  The conversation goes cold very quickly.  No matter how many times I've experienced this, I am always surprised.  The woman today wrinkled her nose and said, "You never hear anything good about pit bulls."  And the man next to her said, "So you must not have any kids then?"  I smiled sweetly and explained that I understand many people have fears of them, but that our pit bull is the sweetest, most well behaved dog we have ever had, and that yes, I do have a child, and my pit bull is better behaved than him also.  I then politely exited the conversation and went on my way.  But as I sat here tonight, I couldn't help but rehashing that conversation, and the many similar talks I have had since we brought home our sweet Zara 8 months ago.  I realize that there are people out there who have had bad experiences with dogs of different breeds, and they may have genuine fears based on their experiences, but I also believe that most people are probably just basing their opinions on what they have been told and stereotypes they have been taught, not any real experience.  Additionally just because one dog of a certain breed did something bad, does not mean that every dog from that breed will behave the same way.  But people will never know this if they continue to base their perceptions on stereotypes and rumors.
  The truth is though, that this conversation isn't just about dogs.  This conversation has a much deeper societal root that needs addressed.  How many of us, I wonder, have prejudices against people of another race, simply because of what we were taught or a stereotype we grew up with?  "I'm not racist."  You might say to yourself... ok, but how do you feel about people with a different religion?  Political affiliation?  Sexual orientation?  Am I touching a nerve yet?  My point is this:  People of different religions, colors, creeds, nationalities, etc are all just people.  And you can believe every stereotype and go around wrinkling your nose when someone mentions the "others" of society, or you can get to know them and see for yourself.  You can reach out your hand to someone of a different skin color, eat a meal with someone who doesn't worship like you, show love to someone who doesn't love like you.  It breaks my heart today that many people view Christians as one of the most unloving and prejudiced groups of people there are, and I think it's time we break that stereotype too.  Jesus didn't shy away from reaching out to those that the religious factions of his day had rejected, and if we want to truly follow in His footsteps, we shouldn't either.  It's time to start reaching outside our circles and creating a world where stereotypes stop having the last word.  I challenge you to take a hard look at your own perceptions and choose to grow and change.  Show a little love this week. We all could use a friend.  I can't wait to see you succeed!
And P.S.  If you ever want to meet a wonderful pit bull, I'd be happy to have you over.

~K.W.

Stages

  I used to think there were two different phases in life.  I believed you were either climbing up a mountain (conquering new goals, pushing through a struggle, growing and changing), or you were at the mountain top (celebrating your success, living the high life, loving every minute.)  I thought that life was a constant ebb and flow back and forth between these two.  But I've learned as I've moved through life that there is a third phase, and this is a phase I would like to call, the "flat land" or "middle ground" for lack of a better term.  This is a phase in life where things are not overly difficult.  You aren't fighting a battle or struggling each step of the way.  They also aren't "peak" experiences.  You aren't waking up each day filled with wonder and amazement at how good things are.  These are days when, you know you are in the right place, you know you are headed in the right direction, and you know you need to just keep moving.  Things in the flat land can seem rather monotonous, and it is here that we can be tempted to do one of two things:  complain because things are "boring"  or, get distracted with things we don't need to be doing.
  I would imagine this is the phase the Israelites were in as they crossed the desert to the Promise Land.  They had already climbed the mountain and fought the battle (slavery, escaping Egypt), but they had not yet reached the mountain top (the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey).  They knew they were where they needed to be, and all they really had to do was keep moving in the right direction.  But instead of just following God one step at a time, they got hung up.  They began to grumble and complain. (Exodus 16-17) They got distracted trying to create their own "mountain top" experiences (ie…inventing a festival to celebrate a golden cow).  (Exodus 32)  Ultimately their grumbling and distraction turned an 11 day journey into a 40 year obstacle which kept them from God's plan.
  Are you on "middle ground" today?  You may not have your dream house or your dream job yet.  You may not have reached your ultimate goal in life.  But sometimes all that is required of us is to stay the course and keep moving forward following God.  Do not allow yourself to be discouraged or distracted today.  Open your eyes to see the beauty in the process, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Keep moving towards where you are called to be. I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.W.