From the Ethnic "Other" Side

Well, yes, I was the designated driver for a quick trip to Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, Texas.  Charlie Daniels was the headliner, and there  were several of us in a study session at Briarwood Presbyterian Camp near Azle.  Three wanted to go, a friend trusted me with his ancient Oldsmobile, and off we went to Fort Worth.

We marched through the very crowded entrance to Billy Bobs:  1)  a 6'6" very black Catholic priest from Jamaica, 2)  a 5'6" semi-round very brown Mexican pastor from south of the border, 3)  a middle-sized camp director from North Carolina with red hair and beard (looking for all the world like Henry VIII), and 4)  me.  Entering a pure-country crowd, as white as a crowd can be.  Which crowd, hardly believing this foursome was actually approaching, opened up like the Red Sea and let us through.  Yes, they did look at us in a pretty puzzled way!

The opening-of-the-sea business continued until we had a good place to stand (no seats available anywhere).  We enjoyed the concert.  No hassles, no stares, just a quiet acceptance (after the initial puzzlement at our weird-looking group). We got the beat along with our neighbors, and it was altogether a good session.

Back in the car, my friends expressed their surprise at how easy and friendly it had all been.  Which it had been.

There are times when negative expectations just don't live up to what we thought.  Of course, that doesn't make news.  There are lots of times when people of different appearances get along just fine.  I've thought about that, and decided that it isn't appearances that trigger problems, but the fact that someone (perhaps with good reason) feels threatened in the moment, gets a shot of adrenalin, and encounters someone else with the same thing going.  As my friend the warden always said:  "With young adult males (and some old enough to know better) you always have to deal with the 'rooster fights'."

Give it a chance, though, and peaceful moments can surprise you.  And cause you to lift a prayer of thanksgiving.  After all, we don't ALWAYS mess up the good that God created;  just sometimes.