Wouldn’t it be great if we could all be colorblind? Why do we place so much emphasis on the color of one’s skin? Why should we judge people of one skin color as being in some way inferior to another whose skin color is a different shade of brown? What if we could all develop the ability to see people simply as human beings, and celebrate our differences rather than viewing some as being superior to others because of the color of their skin?

Racial prejudice is a learned behavior. Children are not born with a natural bent toward racial prejudices. Children accept other children as equals, regardless of skin color. They only show prejudices if they are taught to be prejudiced. If they are reared in an environment of racism, they will most likely grow up to be racists. Conversely, if they are reared to view all people as equal, they will most likely grow up to embrace the view that all are truly of equal value.

As a young boy, one of my best friends was Freddie. We played together. We went camping together. We went skinny dipping together. We frequented each other’s home, ate at each other’s table, slept in each other’s bed. My skin was a light shade of brown, while Freddie’s was a dark shade of the same color. But we saw each other as equal.

As an adult, living in Garland, Texas, my family lived next door to a couple, Clarence and Stephanie. We became very close friends, spending time in each other’s home, eating at each other’s table, sharing life’s experiences with one another. Clarence and Stephanie were delightful and we enjoyed their company immensely. Clarence’s skin was a dark shade of brown, while Stephanie’s was the same as mine. They shared with us that they had been ostracized by both families. Their love for one another was strong enough to weather that storm, but it was so painful to hear their stories of feeling abandoned.

I remember the following event as if were yesterday. The words of Clarence still reverberate in my mind. We were taking an early evening walk, when Clarence took me by the arm, turned me to look into his eyes, and said, “You are the first totally non-prejudicial person I have ever met.” Admittedly, I was shocked to hear those words. I stood in silence for a few moments before speaking. Finally, I said to Clarence, “I wish that were true. I, like everyone else, have prejudices. However, one of my prejudices is not racial. I simply strive to view every person as equal. Color of skin does not determine the importance of one person above another.”

A little later, as parents of teen-age sons, Teresa and I talked about dating rules we would establish for Bryan and Josh. The one, all-important criteria we agreed on was that we would encourage our children to only date believers in Jesus Christ. Color of skin would never be a determining factor in the choice of friends, or of those our children would choose to date and possibly marry.

Now allow me to skip ahead in my life time-line. As a senior adult, in semi-retirement, I worked part-time at Carowinds Amusement Park. I had the privilege of working with several truly wonderful individuals, one of whom was a 77 year old man named Bobby. It is not an exaggeration to say that everybody who met Bobby really loved Bobby. I remember going home on many occasions with stories of Bobby to share with my wife, Teresa. It was quite a while before Teresa had the opportunity to meet Bobby, and I can still remember the look on her face when she saw him for the first time. It was a look of surprise as she shook hands with this man whose skin was a dark shade of brown. Her hand looked rather pale as it was cradled in Bobby’s dark hand.

We all shared a delightful conversation as Teresa and Bobby got to know one another. Later, when we were alone, Teresa said to me, “You never mentioned that Bobby is black.” My response? “It never entered my mind to say that.” Bobby was my friend. I didn’t see a black man: I just saw Bobby.

I do not share these personal stories with the intent of placing myself on a pedestal of non-prejudice that should be viewed as an example. I am simply sharing them to say that I believe this is the way we should all be: truly color-blind when it comes to skin color. We are, after all, created in the image of God. As I shared in my last blog, we are all equal in the eyes of God, so why can’t we be equal in each other’s eyes.

It would change the world radically if we could simply see each other as an equal, walking through the journey of life as fellow sojourners, rejoicing when another rejoices, mourning when another mourns. Whether your skin is a light shade of brown, a dark shade of brown, or somewhere in between, we are still all human beings. Let’s treat each other with the mutual respect we all deserve and need.