Perspective

What's on my mind this morning is perspective. I have had several conversations and learned even more about how many different perspectives we have. With billions of people on the planet it is amazing that we do agree on so many things. A simple things a table is a table, a chair and chair, in every language, culture and religion. In the bigger picture things we are blind to many truths. By "We" I mean any person that is unwilling to acknowledge that there are things outside their perception of truth and community. We are all so quick to judge how other people should "think like we do", "love like we do", "have the same faith as we do" or say "why don't they...xyz?". So quick to roll it all in one big ball and discount the struggles that stand in the way of many inner city children and adults. Many people that have grown up in war torn countries walk around daily with a fear a bomb going off or their families being shot or kidnapped. 

I am a caucasian women who was raised in America in a lower-middle class family. At times we lived in a Motel. We got food and clothing donations from the church. I wore hand me downs from my older sisters. I have perspective of some of the obstacles that low income families experience. I do not and can not however understand what it is like to be judged, profiled and condemned simply because of the color of my skin. If more "white" people understood that this is truth then true change will start to happen. During a time, long before we were born, people chose to divide human beings from being equal to being separate and it has hurt us all. In America we declare Liberty and Justice for all even though it is not how the system is setup. Change starts with you. Pick a person, gay, straight, trans, black or white, a religion, or anything that you know nothing about and ask questions with an open mind. Walk in their shoes, open your mind and I guarantee your new perspective will bring more joy and less fear into your heart. 

Dawn Hoffman