We all know that our words matter. What we sometimes forget is that the words we choose, even with the best of intentions, may not always convey well what our true sentiments may be. I recently learned this lesson during a question and answer session that followed a talk that I gave to faculty members of a high school. The interchange that transpired between me and one of the faculty members was a moment of great grace that has helped me to see how my words need to become more sensitive in respecting our racial diversity.
During my remarks, I said that it was my hope that we become blind to the color of each other’s skin, so that we could see one another with the eyes of Christ and not the world. My intent was to say that the color of our skin should not influence how we treat each other with love and respect. Interestingly, the faculty member who spoke is a woman of color and in a gracious and thoughtful way challenged me to think again at what I said and how it did not convey well what I meant to say. She asked me to consider a world where we can see and acknowledge the different colors of our skin and that the color would make no difference! We should not become blind to the color of our neighbor’s skin. Rather, we should celebrate our diversity and love without distinction. She knew what I meant to say and thanked me for it but asked me to say it in the future with different and better words.
Becoming sensitive to the needs of those around us is a life time project. I am grateful to this woman of faith and to the Lord that I can continue to learn.
The previous reflection originally appeared on Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow the Bishop for daily reflections and weekly homilies.
