Genesis 5:3 “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begot a
son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.”
The quote I
heard was “All generalities are false”. Hmmm, well let’s see; that’s a
generality as well. So, if all generalities are false, then it must be that
that generality is false as well and that some generalities therefore must be
true. For example, I heard the below from a friend sometime ago as a description
of how we look at various cultures:
Heaven Hell
German Mechanics German
PoliceSwiss Bankers Swiss lovers
English Police English Cooks
French Cooks French Mechanics
Italian Lovers Italian Bankers
Has a ring
of truth doesn’t it? But does that have to do with our preconceptions or with
the actual abilities of a given culture? I’m sure there are bad German
mechanics and good French ones. (ADD Alert – I was on an Airbus into Denver
recently that started having smoke in the cabin just after we landed. We had to
jump off the plane – not something on my Bucket List. So the thought that the
Airbus is French built did cross my mind. I was thankful it didn’t happen at
35,000 feet.)
When I was a youth, products from Japan were
regularly dissed. Then Deming (see https://www.deming.org/)
went to Japan and taught them quality and process improvement. Sony bought the
transistor from (I think it was Motorola) and in a generation the Japanese went
from radios to producing world class cars. My current prejudice is products
from China – Hey, it’ll be half price just be sure and buy two – one will have
problems.
The truth
is amazing: Abba in His wonderful creative nature has created and continues to
create individuals. Not a single soul on this planet is exactly like anyone
else. Regardless of our preconceptions regarding cultures, each person is
unique.
My OCD requires I read the Bible
from front to back. I was struggling through the “begats” one time and paused
and asked Abba what was important about naming all these people. It came to me
that He knew each one of them, as He knows each one of us today. Don’t despair;
God knows you, He knows your name and He knows the problems you face each day.
He loves you as an individual; an individual that He created.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
The Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Creative Father, Mighty God
Help us to rejoice
In the Wonder of Your creative
power
And see others as individuals.
Without prejudice,
Without preconception.
Delighting in our differences,
And rejoicing in our common bond
as Your creation.
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