This study post has been harder to prepare as it gets more personal - thank you for patiently waiting for this study material if you were one of the participants who asked me when it was coming out. The written transcript for the audio file is available here.
Noticing Our Responses - Experiencing:
As we did with our first study, I invite you to listen or read the post entitled “My Father’s Skin”.
As you listen, make note of where you feel contracted or resistant to what you are hearing (eg it makes you shake your head, curse inwardly or under your breath, makes you feel fearful, angry or other negative feelings).
Make note also of where you feel expansive and resonant with what you are hearing (eg it makes you smile, chuckle, warms your heart, or makes you nod in agreement, gives you positive feelings).
Once we have listened and noted our inner responses, we will have a time of sharing our experiences together.
Some questions of experience:
My father held fast to cultural practicalities, and made calculated decisions for the advantage of our family based on the colour of our skin.
What are is the dominant racial group in the country you come from? Is your skin colour an advantage, neutral, or disadvantage in the country you come from?
What are your experiences (if any), personally or in your family history, of migration due to the colour of your skin? Do you recognize any privilege or disprivilege in your experience?
What are your experiences (if any) of your skin colour as advantage? disadvantage?
What are your experiences of intentionally using your skin colour to your advantage? How about unintentionally, if you can think of any?
Next - Experiencing from other contexts:
In current times, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) are values that some organizations including the Canadian Government, actively employ in their hiring methods.
What experiences of advantage or disadvantage have you had in DEI hiring processes?
What concerns come up for you (if any) regarding fairness in hiring, when minorities are asked to self-identify in hiring processes for DEI purposes?
Connecting our Responses with Scripture:
Can you think of any scriptures that speak of responsibility or doing what God may want of us, regarding racial equality or social justice?
Luke 12:42-48 ( // Matthew 24:45 - 51) - The faithful or unfaithful slave
41 Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ 42 And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Matthew 12:16 (following the sending of the disciples) , Jesus said:
16 ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’ (Matthew)
Parallel in Gospel of Thomas, Logia 39: Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of Knowledge and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to. You, however, be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves."
Galatians 3: 25-29
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,[k] heirs according to the promise.
What words, phrases or ideas stand out for you from these scripture references or the ones you came up with?
What is Jesus or the scripture saying or recommending to you?
How is Jesus or the scripture calling you into action?
Thank you for reading. If you would like to join the group study please subscribe or email me at janakibandara@diohuron.org to get the Zoom link for Monday at 7pm or Wednesday at 2pm.
If you are already subscribed, the link will be emailed to you again on Sunday night.
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