Labels stick even ones that are not true.
Ever since the beginning when Adam was given the power to name the creation, we have continued to label, name and define. Now a name is a powerful thing, it is our identity, it is how people recognize, call us, and remember us. I believe it was Shakespeare who said, "A rose by any other name is just as sweet." Which is true, I mean the name that we have does not really define our characteristics. If I would list the name of a person, you may have someone come to mind because you know a person by that name. You can think of their hair color, their height, if they are a good friend, good in school or some other characteristic about that person. Or even an item, if I say a chair, you may think of a flat surface with a back rest with four legs for support.
Yet even when we think we know of what something is does not mean that it is always that way or can not be changed. Let's talk about a chair.
A chair does not need four legs. There are times that our definitions need to be changed or thought through to include all things within the category. However this is hard.
Let's take a different example. A man sitting next to a building, his clothes are tattered, he may smell from not showering and he does not look at anyone in the eye.
Within your mind, you call him homeless. You may also apply the label, lazy, burden, troubled, dangerous and caution. You stay away because you do not want to be associated with them or fear of what they may do to you. Yet what was their life like before this? Perhaps he was a veteran, who served our nation fighting in a war so that we could enjoy the freedoms of this world. Perhaps he was a doctor, who was helping children fight diseases within their fragile lives. Perhaps he was married and is now divorced. Perhaps he was a son of a loving mother who wanted the best for him.
Before even knowing their story, you have already placed a label upon the person. You have thought about how that person will affect you and not how you could influence that person. Yet this is one of the things that Jesus Christ calls us to think about, to realize, and to understand. We often think about others and their impact upon us but do we stop to think of how we could impact others? To stop, talk to the person, find out their story and their life journey, finding out how we can help them.
Within the Bible, there is a story of a woman who is caught in sin. The Bible does not say what the sin is but we have put the label on it. Mary Magdeline, was caught sinning and for her sin, the people were going to stone her to death. Yet when Christ came. Jesus stopped the people, asked them why but then held them all accountable by stating that the one without sin would be able to throw the first stone. Jesus was reminding the people that the labels that we place upon people are there to help us, they are there to encourage us within our life, and even help us understand when we are doing something wrong so that we can change. For the label that truly matters is Child of God.
This is a hard thing to change and perhaps it never will but it is most certainly something that we should be aware of. We should be aware of the labels that we put upon others, put upon ourselves. We should be aware of how that influences our lives and how we interact with one another. Once we are able to do that, then we stop, think about what truly matters is it that the person needs to be constantly reminded of the one time that they messed up or the hard times that they are living in? Or would it be better to have someone treat them like a human being, caring for them where they are and helping them with diginity and honor.
Check out this video by Tenth Avenue North - You are More
Yet even when we think we know of what something is does not mean that it is always that way or can not be changed. Let's talk about a chair.
Let's take a different example. A man sitting next to a building, his clothes are tattered, he may smell from not showering and he does not look at anyone in the eye.
Within your mind, you call him homeless. You may also apply the label, lazy, burden, troubled, dangerous and caution. You stay away because you do not want to be associated with them or fear of what they may do to you. Yet what was their life like before this? Perhaps he was a veteran, who served our nation fighting in a war so that we could enjoy the freedoms of this world. Perhaps he was a doctor, who was helping children fight diseases within their fragile lives. Perhaps he was married and is now divorced. Perhaps he was a son of a loving mother who wanted the best for him.
Before even knowing their story, you have already placed a label upon the person. You have thought about how that person will affect you and not how you could influence that person. Yet this is one of the things that Jesus Christ calls us to think about, to realize, and to understand. We often think about others and their impact upon us but do we stop to think of how we could impact others? To stop, talk to the person, find out their story and their life journey, finding out how we can help them.
Within the Bible, there is a story of a woman who is caught in sin. The Bible does not say what the sin is but we have put the label on it. Mary Magdeline, was caught sinning and for her sin, the people were going to stone her to death. Yet when Christ came. Jesus stopped the people, asked them why but then held them all accountable by stating that the one without sin would be able to throw the first stone. Jesus was reminding the people that the labels that we place upon people are there to help us, they are there to encourage us within our life, and even help us understand when we are doing something wrong so that we can change. For the label that truly matters is Child of God.
This is a hard thing to change and perhaps it never will but it is most certainly something that we should be aware of. We should be aware of the labels that we put upon others, put upon ourselves. We should be aware of how that influences our lives and how we interact with one another. Once we are able to do that, then we stop, think about what truly matters is it that the person needs to be constantly reminded of the one time that they messed up or the hard times that they are living in? Or would it be better to have someone treat them like a human being, caring for them where they are and helping them with diginity and honor.
Check out this video by Tenth Avenue North - You are More
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