Prayer: Dear God, Help us to break out of our comfort zones and approach those who are different than us. In your name we pray, Amen
Reading: James 2: 1-10 (11-13) 14-17 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: This passage tells us not to show favoritism towards others. This challenges us to go outside of our comfort zones. Personally, I show favoritism towards people who are like me. It sometimes seems easier to relate to those who we have things in common with. Today as part of my Castellano (Argentina’s version of Spanish) lesson, we had to go out into the street and ask strangers for directions (in Castellano!) Before we started I said, “I wouldn’t even do this in English in the United States!” It was far outside my comfort zone, as I had to ask people who I did not know and were not like me. I asked three different people questions. Later, I pointed out to my teacher one of the people I asked a question. He couldn’t believe that’s who I asked-it was a famous philosopher who is a good friend of the president of Argentina! Without being forced out of my comfort zone, I would have never met this person. It seems easier to do nothing, or only interact with those who look the same as us, talk the same as us, and believe the same as us. So next time you want to play favorites and stay in your comfort zone, remember, you never know who you will meet. --Tara Barnard
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