In living color

Written by 13 Comments

Copyright: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_funlovingvolvo'> / 123RF Stock Photo</a> (for picture collage of flowers)

The sunshine warm upon my shoulders, I gaze out at the yard to survey its ever-changing pallet.  I see the most brilliant yellow of the mini daffodils near the office window, the purest white of the snowdrops beneath the maple tree, a warm and glowing pink of a primrose peeking among the yet to be scraped up winter leaves and the wonderful green of the rhubarb springing to life once again.  Color.  Alive and beautiful color.

But the color that thrilled me this morning was an amazing shade of brown against the white sheets in the bed as I rose from them.  My skin.  

There is a lot of talk in the news these days about color - skin color in particular.  It is conversation that needs to happen and conversation that is far from over.  There is talk of judgment because of color and benefit because of color and we know that neither are right. There are uneasy answers given to hard questions and hearts being searched for truths.  

Through it all I hear a recurring word: colorblind.  I did a bit of reading and one particular description referred to colorblindness as "a color vision deficiency".  The phrase immediately pricked at my heart.  You see, I spent a long time thinking I was/wanted be colorblind, trying to treat each person I came in contact with as equals by ignoring their skin.  On the surface it sounds good but I have found that theory to be flawed.  A deficiency even.  

Webster's dictionary defines deficiency as this:  "a lack of something that is needed : the state of not having enough of something necessary"  "a problem in the way something is made or formed".  Deficient.  

We (that means me and you and all mankind) were created (formed) in God's very image, breathed into life by him and when he was done, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."  

VERY GOOD.


So no, I don't want to be colorblind.  I want to see diversity of skin as beautiful and necessary.  I want to see every God-created, God-breathed individual as the unique person they are - including the beautiful skin wrapping they arrived in.  I want to celebrate the exotic brown of my half Indonesian cousins, the beautiful tan of my half Native American niece, the gorgeous freckled cream of my friend's daughters, the stunning Ethiopian black of a family friend.  The red hair, the black hair, the brown, the blonde, the ash.  The curly, the straight, the wavy.  The green eyes, the blue eyes, the brown eyes.  The short, the medium, the tall, the very tall and the very small.  All shapes, all sizes, all makes, all models.  All equally yet uniquely created.  All beautifully created with promise and purpose inside.  None deficient.      

Each are precious in His sight.

 You are precious in His sight.

Loving the skin we are in, loving the skin other's are in might not change the race dialogue - but it's a start.  Color.  Alive and beautiful color.  Will you celebrate with me today?


     
Linking up with Kristin for Three Word Wednesday and Jennifer for #TellHisStory and Barbie  at the Weekend Brew.  

 Update:  This post is currently featured on Simply Fresh Dinners  Tuesday Tidbits.  
    

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13 comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 25, 2015 at 1:05 PM

    Yes, yes, yes! AND I love all those pretty flowers, says the girl whose ground has been covered with snow for 10 days and who loves spring and summer. I'm glad you joined in #ThreeWordWednesday today!

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  2. UnknownFebruary 25, 2015 at 1:16 PM

    Yes! I too love skin color and diversity. I find it completely amazing that we all come from one Creator and yet are each so unique. I'm loving reading all of the posts over at Jennifer's - so much truth!

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  3. UnknownFebruary 26, 2015 at 3:25 AM

    Yes - we need to love and cherish all the uniqueness of God's creation. He gave us these different colors of skin and hair. Different abilities, different languages. We need to do more celebrating of these, instead of creating divisions and hatred.

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  4. Kathleen GuireFebruary 26, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    I agree! Celebrate the life and color created by the one who makes good things! I love your flower photos. It gives me hope for spring while we are still covered in snow! Blessings! Stopping by from Three Word Wednesday! Hi 'neighbor'!

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  5. CeilFebruary 26, 2015 at 11:17 AM

    Hi Mindy! I'm a little jealous of all the flowers you see. It's still cold and snowy here.
    Your study in being colorblind was a new thought for me. I guess you're right...the idea shouldn't be blindness, but rejoicing in the differences, and loving everything that God made. Including his creative colors.
    Wonderful insight! Thank you as always my friend :)
    Ceil

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  6. Cheri Savory SpoonFebruary 26, 2015 at 6:59 PM

    HI Mindy, what a beautiful post, one of your best!!

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  7. KarmenFebruary 27, 2015 at 6:48 AM

    This is fantastic! I grew up around little diversity which has always made me fascinated by it. No, I am absolutely not colorblind, I’m color sighted. Drawn to it. Thanks for this wonderfully written post!

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  8. sandrajFebruary 27, 2015 at 11:53 AM

    'Loving the skin we are in'....what a wonderful call to each of us, along with our neighbors' skin. Great word picture for diversity and life.

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  9. RobynFebruary 27, 2015 at 3:35 PM

    This is written so beautifully, Mindy, I don't really have anything to add. I'm very passionate about this subject and I've seldom seen this subject summed up so perfectly. Can I share it on Tidbits next week?

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  10. SuzMarch 3, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    I feel the same way and like you I like finding beauty in everything.

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  11. michelleMarch 4, 2015 at 5:43 AM

    I love this! I want to join you in solidarity and live this! Beautiful!

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  12. Debbie HarrisMarch 4, 2015 at 7:06 PM

    "loving the skin we are in" beautiful, Mindy.
    Your words were so graciously put forth and give one to ponder on.
    May we love and respect each and every created being that our Great Creator has created for His glory and honor.
    We are all so uniquely designed, praise the Lord for that.

    Thank you Mindy, for your sweet visits and precious comments in my little corner of the world.

    Many blessings to you my friend.
    Joy!
    Debbie

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  13. Alicia@ eco friendly homemakingMarch 11, 2015 at 6:39 PM

    Oh I agree! Love the gorgeous flowers!

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