And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

- John 10:16

Barack Obama, our first African American president, was sworn in to office on January 21 for a second term. It was the day set aside to honor Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader. We are about to enter the month of February, which is designated as Black History month. Presently in Washington, they are contemplating new immigration laws.

Someone recently remarked that the G.O.P. is a party of angry old white men who completely disregard anyone who votes for a Democrat as lazy freeloaders continually in search of a handout. They actually mean minorities are anyone who does not look, talk or act like them. Never mind the fact that whenever a job fair is held, the majority of faces in line are minorities or people who do not look like them. This is a clear example of that whenever the prejudice or bias clashes with the fact or the truth, one would cling to the prejudice or bias.

The title of this column and the preceding paragraphs may seem unrelated, but I assure you they are intrinsically and eternally connected. They are stories and circumstances which demonstrate the divide between us and our attempts to bridge it. Even God lamented, "I sought for a man to stand in the gap and found none." From the time Adam and Eve walked out of the garden into an unforgiving world, the plan of the enemy was to ensure that a gulf of separation existed between you and God and you and I. Demonically inspired, we cruelly mock, disdain, and scorn anyone who does not look or act like we. We render them worthless, less than human, incapable of being anything more than outcasts, servants or slaves. To highlight the differences between us, to stroke our egos and boost our self-esteem. we invented ugly words. Derogatory terms like nigger, spic, wop, pollock, hebe and chink invaded our language. Anything to make those other guys feel inferior, unwanted and unloved. Think about the Samaritans of the Bible, the children of Africa, the Nords in the Roman empire or the Madras population of India.

Therefore, we heighten the disparities between us and downplay the similarities. We yearn for influence, power, wealth or fame, anything that will separate us from the common herd. Remember, the consternation and indignation of the other disciples when the mother of James and John requested of the Lord, upon the establishment of His kingdom, the seats on His right and left hand for her two sons. We determine that certain professions, places and positions are the privilege of one race or kind. Pawns in the hands of Satan, we ignore phrases like humility, servanthood and esteeming another better than ourselves. Driven by the forces of hell, we adopt a lord and master mentality, an air of superiority and demean, denigrate and subdue anyone unlike us.

We crave the best seats in the assemblies, the offices of elder, bishop, archbishop, cardinal or pope, since our dream is to be served rather than serve.

We strive to ensure that you remain an outsider and only our kind achieves the high stations of life.

This will make it easier to exploit, abuse, misuse and mistreat you since you are not of our sort.

You do not have the same goals, aspirations or emotions as we, so we feel no guilt or remorse while we take advantage of you.

We disregard what God says about looking on the heart, not the outside. We limit your capacity, qualifications and destiny based on your outward appearance. We cannot agree that you too are fearfully and wonderfully made, before He formed you in the belly He knew you, and before you came out of the womb He endowed you with certain specific abilities. It is inconceivable, in our bigoted sense of mind, that you would be welcome in His Father's house, that He has set aside a place for you at His table.

Martin Luther King's statement about "content of character' is so much wishful thinking and not founded in reality.

You do not belong in certain occupations or pursuits.

What infamy! A black man in the white house? Unbelievable! Absolutely unacceptable!

Foolishly we remain mired in the pit of prejudice while the world changes around us.

Nevertheless, the truly wise amongst us appreciate the special talents, gifts and attributes of every human being. They understand quickly that even though you may just be a pebble on the beach, you are important and without you we will be one less.

Today's despised Samaritan may be tomorrow's savior.

They rapidly conclude that we can never be all we intended to be without you realizing all that you were meant to be.

That iron sharpens iron,

a solitary ember of coal flickers out if left alone,

we need each other to survive and succeed,

we are not omnipotent or omniscient and one day we will need help and we cannot manipulate or determine where that help comes from.

Since you are unique in all the world and in all time, the tapestry of life will be incomplete without you.

The Creator of the universe, in whose image you are made, who is incapable of error, has declared your right to be here and reserved your place in the fold.

To struggle against that is infinitely unwise, since we will fight against our maker, a battle sure to lose, one that will only lead to heartache,sorrow and woe.

If we persist in our ignorance, insist on separation and continue to deny the wonder of you, while languishing in hell for all eternity our bigotry will be of small comfort in the searing flames.

To increase our suffering and agony and highlight the final separation between us, our eyes will behold beyond an impassable gulf,

And, lo, a great multitude which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with

white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne.

So He says.

So it is written.

So shall it be done.

V. Knowles is a husband and father with an interest in penning issues that serve to uplift mankind. He melds his love for Classic literature, The Bible and pop culture - as sordid as it may be - into highly relatable columns of truth, faith and justice. Hence the name: Just Thinking. If he's not buried in a book or penning his next column, you may find him pinned to his sectional watching a good old Country and Western flick.