During this time in our nation’s history, I have done much reflecting on our past and what could become of the United States in the future–what will become of our planet that we hold in trust for our grandchildren. It seems to me that many of my fellow Christians have lost their way. We must remember that we must emulate Christ. He was humble, gentle, giving and loving. He healed those who were not grateful, who gave him no thanks. He forgave his enemies and did not boast or become a tyrant, which would have been easy for him.
I was researching George Washington Carver tonight and I was struck by the humility of this genius, by how hard his life must have been with all his health problems and the fact that he was a person of color in a highly prejudiced nation. He received Christ alone in the loft of a barn without any church being involved–just a testimony from a young white boy.
George Washington Carver put into words what I try to live by. See what I found below and I urge you to read the whole Wikipedia article–and more if you can.
From Wikipedia
Carver viewed faith in Jesus Christ as a means of destroying both barriers of racial disharmony and social stratification. He was as concerned with his students’ character development as he was with their intellectual development. He compiled a list of eight cardinal virtues for his students to strive toward:
- Be clean both inside and out.
- Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor.
- Lose, if need be, without squealing.
- Win without bragging.
- Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
- Be too brave to lie.
- Be too generous to cheat.
- Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.
