RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE

Have you read the novel, The Swan House, By, Elizabeth Musser?

My friend, Ann, chose this book for our monthly book club meeting on June 17th and I am halfway through it.

As I read her work, Musser has me thinking...

I am throughly enjoying the setting and the era of this eloquent story. The setting is Atlanta, Georgia, just minutes from where I grew up. The time is the early
1960's, when I was just about to meet my FFs for the very first time at Fernbank Elementary. (see earlier blog entitled FOREVER FRIENDS dated 5/28/09)

Musser shows stupendous skillfulness as she interweaves her story so that it includes many difficult subjects including mental illness, racism, and wealth versus poverty, just to name a few.

I mentioned to my FFs last week that I would not be blogging on Sundays, but here I am because my heart has something to say!

I love when a book that I am reading causes me to take pause and look at my world, my sphere of influence, a little differently. As I sat in church this morning, I casually noticed that there were the same number of Caucasian folks as African American folks on my row. I also made note of a black gentleman named Keith, on the stage, who was helping to lead our praise music. In addition, I observed my friend, Raven, an accomplished saxophonist, likewise on the stage, who happens to be African American gentleman, as well.
Obviously and thankfully, there are not separate restrooms and water fountains for the varied members and guests at our church.
As I sat in our worship service, I began to ponder the hateful racial scenes that Elizabeth Musser has written about in THE SWAN HOUSE, and I ponder the truth... that much has, gratefully, changed during my lifetime.

My mind wanders to an enduring tune I learned as a child...

"Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world."