PODCAST
What’s The Difference?
August 23rd, 2012
Philemon 12-25
My favorite book when I was a child told the story of imaginary creatures, the Sneetches, some of whom had stars on their bellies.* These Sneetches believed themselves to be superior to the Sneetches without stars on their bellies. Once the starless Sneetches purchased stars for their bellies, the others decided stars were no longer to be desired. Both groups went to ridiculously extreme measures to either attach or remove the stars, spending all their money. They became so confused about their identities that they finally recognized their foolishness and agreed to become friends.
The book taught me a powerful lesson about prejudice–one I’ve carried with me throughout my lifetime. It’s ridiculous to judge others based on their outside appearance or even their circumstances. As a Christian, I’ve realized that each person I encounter is an individual for whom Christ died–no better or no worse than myself.
It doesn’t matter if we have a star on our belly or not! We’re all God’s children.
