The Only One with Tan Skin

I grew up in a small city known as the Crown Town (Corona, CA).  The city was majority Caucasian, so when I began elementary school, I never thought twice about how I was the only one with "tan" skin in my class.  Children usually never think about these things to begin with.  Kids do not pay attention to what nationality you are compared to themselves so I never felt different or out of place growing up.  However, now looking back on my childhood, I do remember wondering why I was the only hispanic in my classes year after year. The only time I remember being treated differently by a teacher was when I was in the 5th grade.  My teacher saw me talking when she was talking.  The teacher immediately disciplined me by having me pull a red card, and said that I rolled my eyes at her as I got out of my seat to do so.  I was so humiliated that day in front of everyone in my class, I felt like crying.  I strongly held back the tears as I waited for everyone to stop looking in my direction.  After school that day I asked my teacher if I could explain how I was sorry for disrupting her when she was trying to speak, I wanted her to know that I was not trying to disobey her.  In reality if she allowed me to explain myself, I would have been able to tell her that I was trying to make the person next to me be quiet. However, the teacher did not want to hear what I had to say, she was convinced she saw what she saw, and that was the end of it. This was only one incident that occurred that year in which I had felt as though I was not treated fairly with this particular teacher. 

Overall, it's not a matter of being treated indifferently, it is a matter of loving others despite our differences.  

This is a situation in which impacted my life to treat others in this manner at all times.  It is my mission in life to have a love for others as God has chosen to love us, despite our imperfections. 

Not Staring, People Watching!

Disneyland is by far one of the best places to people watch.  Especially when you have a Disney Annual Pass. I have been there too many times to count, and so it is easy to begin thinking of things to do while you're there with a friend or two.  This is what I enjoy.  First, pick out a really good spot for viewing people that pass you by such as a bench or a comfortable chair.  Then, have a seat, and begin viewing. It's almost as if your at a zoo, you never know what you will see next, who knows you might discover an entire new species!  Anyways, try it out, you'll see what I am talking about.  This is nothing new under the sun, however, you would be surprised, it is a pass time, that is never the same twice.  

So, how does people watching relate to living with a purpose at all? Well, it kind of does and kind of doesn't. Basically it does because once when I was at Disneyland I was waiting for my friend April to use the restroom, and there were two teenage girls sitting beside me waiting as well.  Anyways I struck up a conversation with these young ladies about going to church, and what it is to have a relationship with Jesus.  When my friend April came out of the restroom she didn't even ask any questions about what I was doing, she just went along with it.  Before I knew it these two ladies wanted to re-dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ.  That had to have been the most awesome day at Disneyland that I have ever had.