I didn't understand why everyone was so upset?

Day 64 Hail;

It is so funny to me the difference a perception can make in any giving situation. When I read this reading that talks about the softball size hail I am instantly transported back to being a child of 6 or 7. As children we seem to be more inquisitive about life and how it is unfolding. I have had many of my clients say to me that is because as children we do not have any worries and concerns. My response is perhaps we should give that a try. Who was it after all that convinces us that life was serious, and we had to be so afraid? I remembered very well when I was a child that if I didn't understand something I would ask questions. I may have been a bit fearful but I was still willing to try it out. Do you remember the first time you met someone who looked differently than you? Different hair color, eye color, or their accent was different from yours?

I remember I was in the third grade and there was this talk of desegregation at school, home, church. At home and church all I heard was fear and hatred and the question, why did this need to happen any way. Things were just fine like they were. I remember the first day of integrated school as a day of adventure for me. Here were all these amazing kids that I had never met before coming to the same school as me. Being the official greeter of the universe and willing to talk to a sign post my mama would say. I couldn't wait until recess. I ran up to the new kids and asked their names and introduced myself as Allen. It was one of the best days of my childhood having new friends to play with. Sure we had questions of each other what kids don't. Just like any other child we asked our questions, received an answer of some sort and proceeded to play. I didn't understand why everyone was so upset? Don't they like meeting new people? Don't they like to play?

I remember as a child that I did not understanding the anger, hate, and ugliness I would hear at home from my brother, and dad. Fear is an amazing thing that we allow to control our lives and we don't even know most of the time what we are afraid of. Growing up in the rural south was differently an experience and to be a product of integrating the school system provided plenty of fuel for the fire of hatred. One of the things I learned early in life was to allow my family to find their own path and to enjoy the friends, you have along the way. For a child that lived from a place of love I didn't understand then and I don't today why hair color, eye color and skin color make such a difference. After all when nature paints it uses color. When I think about a rainbow, I don't see the wide array of colors fighting over who is the best and how the rest are somehow diminished because of their color. I don't see an oak tree saying to an elm tree you can't live here because you are not like the rest of us. The only time I see this most clearly is when I look at human nature.

As a child I looked at different as new, fresh, and a chance to see something from a different perspective. Today I am very happy to say that I feel much the same way. When I need to understand something that doesn't make sense to me I just go and stand somewhere else until I get a view that I understand and that makes sense to me. Somethings take longer than others, some not so much. Today I know that if I don't like something it has noting to do with what others think and everything to do with how I perceive it.

So much of what I think today is based on something that someone else taught me to believe. The sooner I can let that go and look at something or someone for who they are, rather than what someone told me they were my life expands. I don't know about you but remembering the magic of softball sized hail and how exciting it was at show and tell sure has taught me a lot in life. Do my own investigation. Stand somewhere you haven't stood before. Stepping over your fears is a great way to find some amazing friends in the world.

I love you,

Thank you,

Rev Allen