Created in the Image of God

If each of us has been created in the image of God, what makes me the harbinger of my justice? Who am I - really?
These are questions I continue to ask as we 'round the corner' of this country.
This one thing I know (among others) that I am created in the image of God and that is not a unique thing - nor is it ordinary.

I continue to be given opportunities to sit at the table of reconciliation with many people who do not believe as I do (nor do we look the same) and it is hard work. I know why people like to stay within their comfort zones of racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, language, and national hatreds (prejudice is a nice word for hate). It's not hard to live in those places.

It's not easy to let go of those things I've grown up with all my life. If I let those things go, who will I be? I believe, as a follower of Jesus, that the rules of how I live my life have changed; and, I'm pissed about it sometimes. After all, how come I've gotta make nice? Why can't you go first? I think that's called PRIDE! And so, I'm learning to listen, actively listen, because it makes life more exciting and not ordinary.

Where you are, where you live, what would happen if you let go of one of your hatreds and reached out to touch someone different than you? You'd probably get bit, smacked, cussed...or maybe something uncommonly good might happen. The "I could get hurt" thoughts will probably outweigh the good. But, we're all created in God's image. Your life would never be the same either way.

As I film the South, feelings burn and words don't effectively describe the spinning in my mind. I remember "colored women" on bathroom doors and not understanding that as a child. My father and mother whispering as we drove through this part of the country with state trooper escorts. I thought we were royalty. Now, I'm all grown up...
I know better.
What does that mean? What do I do with all that? I don't know. I take it one moment at a time. And the camera rolls and I meet people who bleed the same red as I do and hurt just as bad as I do and each of us want healing. What will we let go of?