Friday, July 16, 2004

And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.
(1 Thessalonians 5.14 NRSV)

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The 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott was begun by a lady named Rosa Parks. Rosa had just finished a hard day's work when she paid her fare to ride the Cleveland Avenue bus home. When she got on the bus, a number of white folks were already seated. She took her place at the rear of the bus, in the front part of the colored section. Rosa knew as more whites boarded the bus, moving their seats closer to the rear, she would soon have to stand so a white person could sit. Two stops later what she expected happened. No longer were there enough available seats for the white patrons, so Rosa was told to stand. She refused. The bus driver came back and swore at her, threatening to have her arrested. Still, she would not relinquish her seat. She was arrested, and thus began the bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

Years later Rosa Parks was asked why she would not stand when ordered. She responded it was because of her mother and her Christian upbringing. Rosa Parks declared, "I was brought up to believe in freedom and equality and that God designs all His children to be free." Bring up a child believing that, my friends, and he or she will never be satisfied with being second-class citizens.

It's time for us to see people as Jesus sees them. Christ sees folks as they can be. It makes no difference how they look or where they come from. He sees great potential. To have the mind of Christ is to see that potential, too, and to become an encourager just as he encourages us.

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Lord Jesus, may I help all I meet fulfill their potential. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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