In recent days the U.S. census numbers have shifted.  Now minorities make up one-third of our nation's population, and that number is growing.  I would argue that it's not an accident the Congress is now getting serious about immigration reform.  News reports are describing bi-partisan support for this legislation.  Bi-partisan is a word we have not heard for a long time.

Thomas L. Friedman's New York Time's best-seller, The World Is Flat, is not arguing that the world is flat and a sailing ship is destined to fall-off the edge.  That kind of thinking went out centuries ago.  Friedman is describing a time with shifts in out-sourcing, off-shoring, the internet, etc.; there has been a shift creating a far more level playing field.  In other words, the world is flattening.

Friedman argues there have been three major shifts in globalization.  The first shift began in 1492 when Columbus opened trade from the Old World to the New World.  This first shift was done with muscle, horsepower, wind power and steam power-in other words, brawn.  This was accomplished primarily with nations.  This ended roughly around 1800.  The second shift was from 1800 until 2000, interrupted by the Great Depression, and World War I and II.  During this time multinational companies emerged with both global markets and global labor.  Transportation and communication became more efficient and less expensive.  The third shift which began in 2000 and continues today, is making the world smaller.  In this third shift, the individual has increasing power, shaping entire systems in a global economy.  These individuals are increasingly non-Western, non-white.

Something very similar happened as a result of Pentecost.  Before, the message of the good news of Jesus Christ was given to Jews.  After Pentecost, there was a shift by the Holy Spirit from a message just to the Jews to all humankind.  Paul tells us that for those who are in Jesus Christ, "there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for you all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)  I think this was a cultural writing to the people of Paul's day.  If Paul were to write his epistle today, he might add, "There is no longer rich or poor, there is no longer Democrat or Republican, there is no longer gay or straight; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

There are times when I have the privilege of being in a worship service in a multi-cultural, multi-racial setting, where I am a minority.  I look around and think that this must be what heaven is going to look like.  Those who are people of color not only out number those of us are Caucasian, but people of color are most definitely God's children, too.  You can be threatened by these circumstances or rejoice and embrace these new circumstances.  I choose to rejoice and embrace these "new" circumstances.  I choose to acknowledge the world is not flat with a ship going over the edge, but the world is flattening as it  becomes smaller, and is leveling faster than I sometimes can imagine.  I choose to adapt, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in me and speak through me in new circumstances.

Your partner in ministry,

Bill

The Rev. Dr. William R. Nirote