Walking down an Asian Street on a Wednesday, I was suddenly hit with a fear of someone who was different than me. I can’t remember if the sudden tinge of hesitation towards the other person was because of the way they dressed, a word they said, or something someone else told me about them, but the feeling felt so wrong. I felt so hypocritical for preaching a gospel that unites everyone and makes them equal under God, yet here I was, thinking that another person was unapproachable because of the way they were.
Wrong. It felt gross.
I immediately asked for a new perspective from Jesus, a man that somehow loved every person he saw and met. A new pair of eyes to see people with. A new love that was freely extended to every other pair of eyes I looked at. I didn’t know how I was going to make it to that point. I didn’t know how a heart change so good and pure could happen in a heart that was so clearly riddled with pride and prejudice. I didn’t know how the Lord could transfigure such a story in my soul.
I brushed past a verse in Psalms the very next morning. The timing is a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness. He meant it when he said that anything we ask for in the father’s name we would receive. A love that doesn’t discriminate certainly waves a banner high with the Lord’s name written all over it.
Psalms 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice. Let the many coastlands be glad.
As my eyes read over these words, I was suddenly sent to a coastland. Many coastlands.
Tropical coasts. One families would vacation to to reunite with relatives. One where kids run and dance in the waves. Where the sun is soaked in and the laughter is heavy. One where cool drinks are refreshing and rest is waiting for you.
Rocky, cliff coasts. One where beauty is dramatic and the adventure is thrilling. One that reminds you of the power of the waves, and the strength of the rocks to withstand.
Coasts lined with restaurants that are filled with people being filled. Where conversations and slow and deep are. Where lights twinkle at night and sunrise shines at dawn.
All different kinds of coasts, worlds away from each other, holding lots of different people, lots of different treasures, lots of different beauty.
All of them are beautiful.
Coastlands are where difference is beautiful.
Gensis 1:9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.
An ancient pair of opposites since the third day of this world: WATER AND LAND. A place of difference before there was a word for it.
And these lines, between sand and waves, are places of beauty and rest and joy and adventure. They draw people in and they draw people together. And when Jesus drew lines in the sand with his hand, he took away every right to withhold love from someone because their different, or because you think they have more sin or worse sin.
Where the waves hit the sand is where I realized the Lord loves things that are different. When I thought of the harmony between the white, foamy, salt water and the soft, gentle sand, I though of everything that makes me me: an american, white, 18 year old, who was raised in a Christian home with an amazing family. And then I thought of what made the person next to me who they are. And the person next to them. And the person across the way. And the person on the other side of the world. And the most different person in the world from me. And how maybe we’re supposed to live by psalm 97:1 and be glad together. The many coastlands are made to be glad and rejoice because God reigns and he loves the things he’s made and he loves them together.
Let the earth rejoice. The WHOLE earth rejoice.
Because God is on high and He made all the places where difference is beautiful.
So that’s how they Lord is removing the pride and prejudice in my heart and writing a new story of love instead.
