There is this artsy side of my brain. I nourish it by creating – writing, sewing, drawing, painting, all outlets for the noise in my head.

There is something magical about putting pen to paper, thread to needle, adding paint to canvas, or charcoal to paper. An outward reflection of my inward thoughts and emotions.

There are no limits to what you can create – except those imposed by your own mind.

I think this passion for creating is a trait I share with my Heavenly Father. Since His creation of time, He has expressed His joy, sense of humor, love for beauty, and a keen sense of order, by calling into existence all we see, hear, and touch. He meld together color, bone, and sinew to create the beautiful variation we experience in humankind today, man and woman – He made them both. Each created in His image but unique, unequaled variations of His perfection.

So, it saddens me when I hear what is going on in the world, in this country, my community. We have become a divided people, fearful, unforgiving. Grace and mercy have left many of our vocabularies, our hearts. We assume the worst and are surprised by anything less.

Don’t misunderstand me, I know how we’ve landed here – years of injustice, decades of promises followed by failure and disappointment, ignorance, a legacy of sin, an air of superiority. In light of our history, it may seem natural to become angry and jaded.

But you have to understand, I try to see the world filtered through Jesus’ creative lens. A mindset that causes me to believe we are created equal; we are His image-bearers, brothers, and sisters. So, in my paradigm, there is no room for today’s hate.

 I am the product of an African-American and Chinese father and a White mother. I’ve lived as a tapestry of color. But this doesn’t mean I didn’t feel the impact of not being “White enough” or “Black enough.” I lived on the fringe of these cultures, experiencing exclusion – perhaps because I didn’t look like or reflect their cultural attitudes.

I just wonder what would happen to our world, our communities, and neighborhoods if we actively decided to see each other through Jesus’ eyes. If we began behaving like brothers and sisters, more alike than different, more family than hated foe.

In the book of John, we are commanded, not suggested or recommended, but commanded to love.

³⁴So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

So what if as believers, we took the instruction found in the book of John seriously? What if we took the first step to demonstrate to the world the same kind of love we are offered by our Father – unconditional, unbiased, passionate love?

I encourage you to educate yourself about the history that has marred our past, seek to understand the differences and similarities of races, keep your heart open, soft, and humble. But commit dear Sisters, commit to LOVE like He loves. Just like you are profoundly loved by your Father.

Be Blessed His BeLOVED,

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CeCe Winans celebrates the amazing diversity of our world in her song Colorful World, enjoy!