racism still exists in our society is hard to believe. We’ve
naively assumed that racism was in our past. That is not the
case. Others of us have experienced racism, and this season
seems like another sad chapter in a long story where nothing
ever changes.
When we deny that racism exists in our society and in the
church or attempt to defend actions that are indefensible,
we become stumbling blocks, and our witness for Jesus is
tarnished. Our posture of believing what our brothers and
sisters of color are telling us, listening to their perspective,
and seeking to be agents for reconciliation is one tangible
way that, right now, we can “keep the path clear to the cross.”
Get Over Yourself
At the funeral of President George H.W. Bush, former
Sen. Alan Simpson said Bush “was a man of great humility.
Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington,
D.C., are not bothered by heavy traffic.”
I once had a co-worker who said to me on several
occasions, with a smile on his face, “Get over yourself.” It was
a truth I needed to hear. I was overthinking a challenging
situation and had made it about me and my feelings. The
ability not to take ourselves too seriously is a gift we give
those who are watching our lives and seeking to emulate us.
As I think back across the span of my life, I was deeply
impacted by the people who exhibited a Jesus-centered
gracious humility. My parents, Les and Esther Whitehead,
were devoted Christ-followers who were sold out to Jesus
and His call to point people to Him. They weren’t perfect, but
they exhibited this gracious humility that was so inviting.
As you think about your spiritual journey and the call to
pass the baton of faith, think about these questions:
• How do you see God’s hand on your faith journey?
What implications does it have for others who are
learning from and watching you?
pg. 8 — lightandlifemagazine.com
• Are you keeping the path clear to the cross? What does
it mean for you to take a posture of listening and hearing
from people’s experiences that are different than yours?
• Is your journey characterized by humility and the
willingness to listen and learn?
May our faith journeys be lived out in such a way that our
faith is passed on to those we are investing in and those we
are learning from. For heaven’s sake, don’t drop the baton!+
“May our faith
journeys be lived
out in such a way
that our faith is
passed on to those
we are investing in
and those we are
learning from.”
/lightandlifemagazine.com