Sunday, November 08, 2009

Stereotypes

It's funny how stereotypes come up and bite you in the butt when you're least expecting it.

This morning I did pulpit supply for a small church in Vidor. It was the second time I'd filled their pulpit and presided at Communion for them.

Now, for those of you who don't know about Vidor, it's a small community outside of Beaumont where, for many years, the Ku Klux Klan had its headquarters, or it was a pretty powerful force at any rate. When I first lived in Beaumont, I was told by an African American friend that we could not travel east in the same vehicle. It simply wasn't safe for either of us. Even today, Vidor has a reputation of being pretty much a 'white enclave', and, to be truthful, is still strongly racially influenced.

Of course, I had my own blinders on and expected the congregation to be as racially segregated as, unfortunately, way too many congregations are at the worship hour. The first Sunday, I'd been somewhat surprised at the racial-ethnic diversity among the worshippers, but had passed it off as the multi-generational diversity of one particular family and assumed that the segregated mindset of the community as a whole would exist in the congregation.

This morning, I waded into some deep territory for those who prefer "separate, but equal". In my prayers of the people, I included Major Hasan, a Muslim and someone who committed an incomprehensible act of violence, killing and wounding many, asking for God's concern whether this act was committed through mental breakdown or misguided religious zeal. Then I waded in even further by quoting the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in my sermon. Inside I cringed and fully expected to be received with complete silence and censure.

Not so.

God works in mysterious ways and opens the eyes of our assumptions when we most need a kick in the butt. This little congregation has more racial ethnic diversity than the congregations I've pastored ever dreamed of! Even though the one family was absent today, there were others in attendance whose racial ethnic backgrounds were not Caucasian. And those who were, welcomed my words and seemed to take them to heart.

Serves me right for not expecting the unexpected!