A Taste of Heaven

This past weekend I went to a youth retreat with my new church's teens. What a wonderful experience. It was like a taste of what heaven will be like as we talked, worshiped and ate together like a family, although we were a very diverse group. I have led a diverse youth group as long as I have been in ministry professionally, but this group was unique. There were 7 different races that I know about for sure represented in my group of 21 kids. They all got along together and shared like a family. Race and history bring so much into the mix. Unfortunately many times those things are negative and divisive.

With today's young people that is not the case. Most of our teens in urban areas are not influenced much but the race of a friend or acquaintance, they are able to roll with differences and continue to develop deep friendships with people who do not share the same shade of melanin. I left this weekend thankful at the maturity of these teens and proud to be someone who they will hopefully look to for guidance down the road as we all grow closer. There will be no ghettos or security fences in heaven. No gated communities or "other side of the tracks". We will live together in harmony and song, praising the one who made us and led us. Thank you teens for letting me see another taste of heaven this weekend.

What IF everyone in America opened themselves up fully to be used by God with whoever He calls us to be in community with? Can we push aside the negative stereotypes and embrace the new direction of equality that God is taking His church toward?