My wife and I were in paradise for three days.
No, not we didn’t die, go to heaven, and return with a big book deal.
We had not had a vacation alone since the birth of our son. We actually found out Amy was pregnant with him while on Vacation in 2009. So, it had been awhile since it was just us. What did we do? My wife wanted to go to Florida to see some spring training baseball. “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” (Proverbs 31:10)
Since my wife is so excellent I happily obliged and looked forward to our weekend together. We arrived on Friday, got our rental, and drove straight to a baseball game. We live in Virginia and when we left there was snow on the ground, so we happily soaked up the sun and warmth. After the game we checked in to our bed and breakfast on the beach and relaxed.
Such was the next couple days. Another game, more warm weather and good food, more relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. Sunday we packed our things and sadly said goodbye to this little slice of heaven we had enjoyed for the last few days. We got in our rental car, and headed up the road towards Orlando and our eventual departure.
On the way, we stopped for drinks and such in a small gas station 20 miles or so outside of Orlando. We had been admiring the vibrant greenery, the birds, and the ever present palm trees on our way to the airport. We were in a full vacation mood, thoroughly enjoying our time in Florida, and sad to leave.
That is, until we went to checkout at this gas station.
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My wife showed me some T-shirts they had for sale near the counter. I noticed several more window decals as well and my mood was shattered. “F.U.C.O. What does that mean?” She flipped the shirt over to show the back. “For us crackers only.”
I don’t live in a sheltered world and am fully aware that racism is alive and well. I suppose what hit me so hard is the idyllic mood we were in was shattered so forcefully by this shirt. I wondered how I would be treated if the adoption was complete and I had an Ethiopian daughter in tow.
I wondered what had caused this mentality of “us vs. them” there in that place? What hate or anger resides in their hearts that makes them feel this way?
There is a fallacy that is nearly universally accepted that we humans have multiple races. We call it “racism.” Yet, we have no separate races. We are one human race comprised of multiple ethnicities. There is no need to talk about this at length. Racism is foolish ignorance. Hate and fear are aimed at something that does not exist, namely other races.
I returned home lost in thought, my paradise lost. Hate, fear, and ignorance abound. The only answer is the gospel. God will save from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. (Rev. 7:9) God created the wonderful palate that is the human race. I have no right to hate that which I am, a human. I have no right to hate my Creator’s handiwork. I, and you, are his creation.
I was tempted to hate them. How silly is that? In my flesh I wanted to yell at them for their stupidity. That isn’t the answer, though.
Christ is the answer. As this site says, may Christ be the only boast of this generation.
