Folks, I think one of the things that upsets me the most about we humans is that we oft times criticize, with unkind remarks, and scorn other people’s way of living. This is especially true as we encounter other nationalities and customs.

Take foods for instance. Folks, I had never eaten a breakfast taco in my life until I moved here to south Texas. Now I thoroughly enjoy them and often fix them for my breakfast. Be that as it may I had heard about them from others who sort of looked down their noses at this kind of food. These same people and a lot of others would be aghast to know that I enjoy beef brains. I can hear some of you saying ugh or stronger language. We tend to look with jaundiced eyes at foods we have never tasted before. This is especially true if we are in a different culture.

It may also be true that we view different customs too harshly. Different folks celebrate, express sorrow, exuberance, religious customs and all sorts of things that we have not experienced.

One of my favorite illustrations of this is one I used many times with students in courses that I taught.

It seems there was a group of Americans touring China. One day they decided to visit a cemetery. As they strolled along they saw a man putting a bowl of rice on a grave. One of the visitors asked the man a thoughtless question. When will your friend come up and eat that rice? When your friend comes up to smell your flowers, was the reply. Touché!

I don’t know about you folks, but I am going to redouble my efforts to enjoy our differences.

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