READ: James 2:1-13
There’s a library in Lake City, South Carolina named after Ronald McNair. However, Ron’s first brush with that library was not so pleasant. You see, Ron was African American, and he grew up during the days of segregation. The local library was off limits to “coloreds.” But when he was nine years old, without his parents’ knowledge, Ron walked to the library and politely asked to check out some books on science. The librarian called the police, but the officer that showed up looked at the boy and said, “what’s the problem here? Why don’t you just let the boy take the books?”
What that police officer had no way of knowing was that Ron would grow up to become a physicist and an astronaut, a part of the crew that died tragically when the space shuttle Challenger exploded. All he knew was that it was the right thing to have the courage to show basic human decency to a little boy.
James tells us that “believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” Have the courage to be kind to everyone. Open up doors for others whenever you can, instead of closing them. You never know when a library book may lead someone to the stars.
There’s a library in Lake City, South Carolina named after Ronald McNair. However, Ron’s first brush with that library was not so pleasant. You see, Ron was African American, and he grew up during the days of segregation. The local library was off limits to “coloreds.” But when he was nine years old, without his parents’ knowledge, Ron walked to the library and politely asked to check out some books on science. The librarian called the police, but the officer that showed up looked at the boy and said, “what’s the problem here? Why don’t you just let the boy take the books?”
What that police officer had no way of knowing was that Ron would grow up to become a physicist and an astronaut, a part of the crew that died tragically when the space shuttle Challenger exploded. All he knew was that it was the right thing to have the courage to show basic human decency to a little boy.
James tells us that “believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” Have the courage to be kind to everyone. Open up doors for others whenever you can, instead of closing them. You never know when a library book may lead someone to the stars.
–Ken Roach