I was so pleased to read the story on racial unity featured in The Times on July 17 (Traditionally white, black churches’ joint service shows ‘what kingdom of God looks like’)

What a wonderful event this must have been! The Rev. Stephen Samuel was correct when he stated “this is what the Kingdom of God looks like.” I’m really sorry I missed it because I would have attended had I known about it. These are two congregations who are not allowing the hatred, mistrust and divisive talk of others in our country keep them from celebrating true sisterhood or brotherhood here in Hall County.

The article repeatedly used the word traditionally. How is it that we continue to maintain certain behaviors traditionally? Do we keep certain traditions in place because we want to be like our co-workers or family? Are we just too accustomed to the way its always been? Are we afraid that we might be taking an unpopular stand? Are we too frightened to step outside of our comfort zone? Why do we wait until there is tragedy, loss of life, disrespect, or violence before we make the attempt to build a bridge?

So what if we extrapolate beyond the idea of two Baptist congregations joining together as fellow Christians? What if we broaden the scope of extending the hand of unity to include all of humanity, to include those we avoid the most.

What if we were able to widen our embrace of the human family to include peoples of all colors, every ethnic background and language, the elderly, LGBT people, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, nonbelievers, the mentally ill, disabled, homeless, refugees fleeing war torn nations, the poor, etc.? Trust-building takes real work. It doesn’t come easy. It goes way beyond Hall County. Do our daily activities (political, recreational, religious, work-related, family oriented or whatever) promote divisiveness or unity? What about our daily conversations?

These are the kinds of discussions we are having at the local Meet Up for Unity group here in Hall County, which recently held an annual Race Unity Day picnic at Longwood Park. As was stated by Abdul-Baha in the Writings of the Bahai Faith almost 100 years ago: Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning. A rose is beautiful in whatsoever garden it may bloom. A star has the same radiance if it shines from the east or the west.

Thank you, Revs. Samuel, Scott W. Moore and to the congregations of Air Line Baptist and St. John Baptist for putting these words of Abdul-Baha into practice.

Robin Neiheisel
Oakwood