God Incarnate Chose Brown

Kittens tumble across the floor:
Black, white, gray, or orange
Born to a calico mother.
Cats see no difference because of color.
Why are we not more like these furry creatures
And see only our common humanity?
Why  focus on the skin tint

Developed for survival in different climes?

 
What color was Jesus,

God Incarnate?
Not the pale hue of northern climes,

No matter what our paintings show.
Born in a land scorched by the sun
The Christ was neither white nor black,

But brown as the pottery from which he ate.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But God could.
Why do we forget?

The Advent God is Brown

Kittens tumble under the Christmas tree,
Black, white, gray or orange
Born to a calico mother.
Cats see no difference because of hue.
Why are we not more like these furry creatures
And see only the humanness of others
Not the skin tint passed by generations?
What color were you, Lord?
Not the pale hue of northern climes.
In a land scorched by the sun
You were neither white nor black.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But you could.
Why do we forget?

Photo by adrigu