For as far back into my life as I can remember, I have always had an awareness of treating all folks equally regardless of race.  “Red and yellow, black and white” is a line in the song “Jesus loves the little children of the world.” As I sang it as a pre-schooler, I believed it.  My Mother reinforced it with words as I was growing up, countering the actions of other family members.

The city church that we traveled to several times each week from a nearby, mostly white suburb gave me opportunities to put my belief in practice.  When our church partnered with an African American church, Bernie and I frequently visited to worship and support their ministry. Calvary Baptist Church in Paterson, New Jersey later became a supporter of ours when Bernie left a career in banking and we moved half way across the country to attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

The local church that Bernie pastored, Bethany in Harwood Heights, was literally “red and yellow, black and white.”   And now, serving as a District Minister and wife, we delight in the multi-cultural, multi-ethinic nature of the churches that make up Converge MidAmerica.

This year’s election choice was difficult for me.  I wrestled with choosing a candidate who reflected my beliefs and values.  However, on Tuesday night when Mr. Obama stood with his wife and girls to accept the presidency of our nation, I was filled with awe and a deep gratitude to God for this historic moment.  It seemed right to me and necessary.  As  we move ahead with excitement, a sense of pride and some hesitation regarding beliefs and values, I will trust God to lead us in a path that is right for all human beings.