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I Don’t Believe in a Colorblind Christmas

As this year comes to a close, I can’t help but look back and marvel at all the miracles. In my personal life and in our world, there is much to celebrate but I also do not want to forget those whose lives were lost so tragically and unnecessarily this year.

This Christmas I grieve with those families. I mourn with the mothers and grandmothers who have watched their babies gunned down, beat down and tortured on the streets of our country because of the color of their skin.

In a very different context, I have lived a year of firsts after the death of my beloved, and I know how it stings. I know how perfectly magical holiday moments can turn so quickly into a memory that pierces the heart like an unexpected arrow.

My soul cries with the parents, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles who will taste the bittersweet of this season without the presence of that loved one. I have no desire to get in some debate today about police brutality or posturing presidential candidates. All I really want to do is bring dignity to these families by remembering their loss. This Christmas I want to invite you to join me in a holy lament.

When We Are Still Fighting For Reconciliation

I’ll be honest I’m downright incredulous that we are still fighting for civil rights and dignity for people in our country who have a browner skin tone. It’s 2015. I thought – or dreamed – we would be farther along by the time my babies were entering their school years. I long for justice, and I long for reconciliation.

I still remember my mama telling me about those marches for civil rights in the ’60s.

I still remember memorizing poignant lines of poetry by Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou when I was in grade school in the ’80s.

I still remember the day in the early ’90s when a bunch of white girls from my south side of Chicago neighborhood told me they couldn’t play with my best friend and me because we were brown girls.

I still remember writing that Voice of Democracy speech my senior year about how we need to embrace diversity and strive for unity as a nation.

I still remember pouring over speeches by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when I was in college, searching for seeds of hope and grappling with my own racial identity.

These moments, these memories shape me.

Sadly, the racial atmosphere in our country remains electrically charged, and I find myself asking, “What can I say? How can I be a part of the healing? What are we as the Christian church going to do about it?”

When Colorblind Is An Excuse For Complacency

Here’s the reality: It’s so much easier to say we are colorblind and to march on with our carefully-crafted Christmas celebrations while families around us still suffer. Our silence on this issue of racism in the church is a sad testimony. We share a post on Facebook. We applaud others who speak out, but we don’t want to get too messy or controversial doing it ourselves.

Throughout my life, I have had people tell me they are colorblind. I have a hard time believing it. When are we going to acknowledge that colorblindness is in itself a function of white privilege? It’s a privilege to say, “I don’t see your skin color.” Implicit in that statement are the words: “I don’t have to see you for how you were created.”

You see, as a multi-racial woman cultural nuances are always on my radar. I can play cool and blend in but I still notice. Every time I walk into a women’s conference, I notice when I’m the minority in the room with more melanin in my skin. Every time I sit down with leaders from the church, I am well aware when the diversity around the table wanes. Every time I take my daughters to school or church or the park, I wonder what kind of racism (subtle or overt) they might encounter.

It’s time to stop being complacent in our fears and leverage white privilege or economic privilege for good to lift up the marginalized. In other words, people with lighter skin or from a higher economic background are often offered unspoken privileges in our society. It might be easier for them to get a job, a position on a committee, rent an apartment, etc. If that’s your background, you don’t need to be ashamed but you and I can use that privilege to speak up for others who do not enjoy the same privileges.

We can make the first move and reach out to those who are grieving and ask them to share their stories. We can bridge the gap by acknowledging our own biases and starting a conversation with someone different from ourselves. We can invite the foreigner, the refugee to our table. We can ask someone from a different culture to teach us how to cook, how to eat, how to worship in a new way.

Every time a Black sister graces the stage with her preaching or her singing, I celebrate. Every time a Korean pastor publishes a book or produces a podcast, I cheer. Every time my Salvadoran mama friend serves up pupusas and shares her passion for diversity in her son’s class, I well up with pride because this is the beginning of celebrating our true colors. It’s time we acknowledge our ethnicities and celebrate them together. I believe this is the pathway to healing our racial divide.

When a White Christmas Is More Than a Carol

I also want to challenge you to think about the Christmas story you are telling your kids and the decorations you are hanging in your homes.

Even in our Christmas décor we are communicating our prejudices. Nativity sets that boast a blond baby Jesus are unrealistic. Baby Jesus was a Jew. Dark hair and brown skin were a lot more likely. We are perpetuating a culture that is white-washed and inaccurate. When we overlook the cultural component of the Christmas story, we miss out on the rich and full understanding of the gospel.

I am returning to the example my mama set when I was growing up. She was not willing to settle for the porcelain white, blond-haired Jesus figurines they are still selling in the mall in 2015. She wanted Christmas to celebrate all cultures. She carefully arranged her collection of nativity sets from places she or her children visited around the world.

Now my daughters make the rounds at Nana’s house the same way I used to as a kid. Their eyes light up when they see the nativity made from a coconut shell carved in Haiti, or the Costa Rican creche formed by with homemade clay and hand-mixed paints, or the hand-crocheted nativity in vibrant colors from the Philippines.

When we read the story of Jesus birth on Christmas Eve, we have the opportunity to share about the child who crossed cultures to redeem us. We can invite a conversation about the kings from different nations who came to worship him. This is a perfect picture of unity in diversity.

When We Act Like Christmas People

I believe Christmas is a time to celebrate. That night when a baby made his way down that virgin mother’s birth canal something scandalous happened – Hope was born. God crossed into the human world, sending his Son through an oppressed, minority culture as a peace child. A war was raging between races, religions, classes and kings – much like war rages in our country and world today. Jesus came to end that war. He came to reconcile us to God and to each other.

It’s time for those in the church to be the example. It’s time for us to declare that we will not accept a colorblind Christmas anymore. It’s time for us Christians to live and breathe and speak and act like we are Christmas people. We need to believe in the Hope brought by our Christ-King and fight for it. We need to see people for who they are – unique, colorful, beautiful, chosen, adopted, and created in God’s image for His glory.

I believe God is calling us to be agents of healing in a broken world. We need to do the hardest work and lead the way in reconciliation. After all, that’s what the baby – the Christ – came to do when he was born in that dirty manger.

Image Credit:  Daniel Bunker, Associate Pastor

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December 14, 2015 Categories: GeneralTagged: christian blog, christianity, dorina lazo gilmore, hope, I Don’t Believe in a Colorblind Christmas, identity, inspirational

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  1. Tamara Hill says

    December 14, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Beautifully expressed.

    Reply

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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Before Footer

I’ve created this compassionate resource for your personal journey with grief. This book was 8 years in the making and offers a comforting, giftable resource for those who are processing their own loss, whether of a loved one, a season of life, or a dream. Breathing Through Grief includes 25 short devotionals that each focus on a different aspect of grief from my personal experience.

The journal also includes special resources such as:
•
breathing exercises
•
reflection questions
•
soul care tips
•
ample writing space
•
advice on how to talk to children about death
•
suggestions on how to approach triggers
•
creative ways to honor a loved one’s memory

If you or someone close to you is walking through loss⁠, let the comforting words in Breathing Through Grief encourage you with the knowledge that you are not alone and bring you a semblance of peace as you continue forward on the road to healing.

The book releases Nov. 14. You can pre-order today. For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.

View

Sep 21

Open
I’ve created this compassionate resource for your personal journey with grief. This book was 8 years in the making and offers a comforting, giftable resource for those who are processing their own loss, whether of a loved one, a season of life, or a dream. Breathing Through Grief includes 25 short devotionals that each focus on a different aspect of grief from my personal experience.
The journal also includes special resources such as:
•
breathing exercises
•
reflection questions
•
soul care tips
•
ample writing space
•
advice on how to talk to children about death
•
suggestions on how to approach triggers
•
creative ways to honor a loved one’s memory
If you or someone close to you is walking through loss⁠, let the comforting words in Breathing Through Grief encourage you with the knowledge that you are not alone and bring you a semblance of peace as you continue forward on the road to healing.
The book releases Nov. 14. You can pre-order today. For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
8 1

Last week I embarked on a new adventure. My sister and I were hired as the new chefs for the Open Door Sisterhood retreat in Priest Lake, Idaho. This annual 5-day retreat is part of a year-long experience carefully curated and nurtured by podcast hosts and authors Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall. This gathering is designed for professional communicators and business women who want to infuse the hope of Christ into their work.

As I was chopping onions and adding fragrant spices to the pot, I felt great pleasure. My heart swelled with delight as my sister and I showed a small group of women how to roll lumpia just like our Grandma Cora taught us. I experienced joy in serving up Pancit, Bibimbap bowls, Butter Chicken, Pizzelles and Pumpkin tiramisu - all the while sharing the stories of how these foods connect to my family.

I remembered one of my favorite stories in the Bible after the resurrection of Christ. Jesus appears by the Sea of Galilee where his disciples were together. The group heads out to fish, but they don’t catch anything.

The next morning Jesus is standing on the shore waiting for them. He calls out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

They answer no.

He urges the to cast their nets on the right sight of the boat. The result is a catch of 153 large fish - so many that the net is torn. Jesus urges them to bring the fish for a big fish fry on the shore. “Come and have breakfast.”

None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish (John 21:11-12, NIV)

We see Jesus’s joy in serving them. He takes time to make bread and prepare fish to nourish them well and then send them out. This is the power of food and sharing a meal across the table. It’s nourishment for the body and soul.

🫶🏾 Friend, what about you? Have you ever had that experience of doing something that brought you great joy and blessed others?

{Read the full reflection here: https://open.substack.com/pub/dorinaglorygram/p/follow-the-joy-set-before-you} #foodie #food #cookingtherapy #nourish #lovelanguage #powertothesisterhood #retreat @theopendoorsisterhood

View

Sep 18

Open
Last week I embarked on a new adventure. My sister and I were hired as the new chefs for the Open Door Sisterhood retreat in Priest Lake, Idaho. This annual 5-day retreat is part of a year-long experience carefully curated and nurtured by podcast hosts and authors Krista Gilbert and Alexandra Kuykendall. This gathering is designed for professional communicators and business women who want to infuse the hope of Christ into their work. 
As I was chopping onions and adding fragrant spices to the pot, I felt great pleasure. My heart swelled with delight as my sister and I showed a small group of women how to roll lumpia just like our Grandma Cora taught us. I experienced joy in serving up Pancit, Bibimbap bowls, Butter Chicken, Pizzelles and Pumpkin tiramisu - all the while sharing the stories of how these foods connect to my family. 
I remembered one of my favorite stories in the Bible after the resurrection of Christ. Jesus appears by the Sea of Galilee where his disciples were together. The group heads out to fish, but they don’t catch anything. 
The next morning Jesus is standing on the shore waiting for them. He calls out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
They answer no. 
He urges the to cast their nets on the right sight of the boat. The result is a catch of 153 large fish - so many that the net is torn. Jesus urges them to bring the fish for a big fish fry on the shore. “Come and have breakfast.” 
None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish (John 21:11-12, NIV)
We see Jesus’s joy in serving them. He takes time to make bread and prepare fish to nourish them well and then send them out. This is the power of food and sharing a meal across the table. It’s nourishment for the body and soul.
🫶🏾 Friend, what about you? Have you ever had that experience of doing something that brought you great joy and blessed others?
{Read the full reflection here: https://open.substack.com/pub/dorinaglorygram/p/follow-the-joy-set-before-you} #foodie #food  #cookingtherapy #nourish #lovelanguage #powertothesisterhood #retreat @theopendoorsisterhood
26 4

I had a fantastic Sunday morning running the Diamond 10k! 🩵💎🦋 The weather was simply gorgeous! I could feel a cool breeze kissing my shoulders (most of the way) on the out-and-back course from the San Joaquin River Parkway Conservatory. My hubby Shawn was the race announcer. The runners got to cross the finish line under a chandelier and sparkly sun rays.

This is one of my fave races because of all the phenomenal women cheering each other on, the beautiful jewelry by Endure Jewelry (instead of traditional medals), and of course, the sparkly donuts. 🍩 🏃🏽‍♀️My friend and race director @sunny.runs always has every detail dialed in to make it a beautiful & community-oriented event! After a long week, this was definitely the breath of fresh air and reset I needed!

#glorychasers #walkrunsoar #eatprayrun #runningmotivation #running #runhappy

View

Sep 18

Open
I had a fantastic Sunday morning running the Diamond 10k! 🩵💎🦋 The weather was simply gorgeous! I could feel a cool breeze kissing my shoulders (most of the way) on the out-and-back course from the San Joaquin River Parkway Conservatory. My hubby Shawn was the race announcer. The runners got to cross the finish line under a chandelier and sparkly sun rays. 
This is one of my fave races because of all the phenomenal women cheering each other on, the beautiful jewelry by Endure Jewelry (instead of traditional medals), and of course, the sparkly donuts. 🍩 🏃🏽‍♀️My friend and race director @sunny.runs always has every detail dialed in to make it a beautiful & community-oriented event! After a long week, this was definitely the breath of fresh air and reset I needed! 
#glorychasers #walkrunsoar #eatprayrun #runningmotivation #running #runhappy
47 2

It was truly my joy to
design, cook, and serve up
11 meals
Over 5 days
Taking 13 women on a
World tour.
Nourishing souls.
Telling stories
through food.

#foodiefriday

View

Sep 16

Open
It was truly my joy to
design, cook, and serve up
11 meals
Over 5 days
Taking 13 women on a 
World tour.
Nourishing souls.
Telling stories
through food. 
#foodiefriday
31 4

📖 Join me today for a verse-by-verse reading and unpacking of one of my favorite psalms! Psalm 139 is a reminder that we are known by God and He is always with us.

Maybe you are feeling lonely today. Maybe you are wondering if He really cares about your grieving heart or sees you in the waiting. These honest and passionate words from David are a honey-sweet reminder that we are never alone.

I personally love thinking about God with knitting 🧶 needles designing and knitting each of us together in our mama’s womb. I love thinking about how with thread and needle 🪡 He hems me in.

🫶🏾What was your fave verse or image from Psalm 139?

#psalm #biblestudy #versebyverse #david #fearfullyandwonderfullymade #knitting #bibleverse #psalms

View

Sep 15

Open
📖 Join me today for a verse-by-verse reading and unpacking of one of my favorite psalms! Psalm 139 is a reminder that we are known by God and He is always with us.
Maybe you are feeling lonely today. Maybe you are wondering if He really cares about your grieving heart or sees you in the waiting. These honest and passionate words from David are a honey-sweet reminder that we are never alone.
I personally love thinking about God with knitting 🧶 needles designing and knitting each of us together in our mama’s womb. I love thinking about how with thread and needle 🪡 He hems me in. 
🫶🏾What was your fave verse or image from Psalm 139?
#psalm #biblestudy #versebyverse #david #fearfullyandwonderfullymade #knitting #bibleverse #psalms
20 6
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