Thinking this week about how I complain about headwinds and fail to notice tailwinds.
And of course, this isn’t about cycling.
I grew up in small town middle America. Most everybody had the same skin color, wore similar clothes. Most everybody ate similar food. I went to college 20 miles up the road, and things weren’t much different. I frankly wasn’t aware of the headwinds faced by those who looked different or spoke different languages or came from different cultures.
Honestly, I didn’t realize I went through the first part of my life with a tailwind. I was a white, middle-class, American male from a relatively stable two-parent household. I attended world-class schools and had literally unlimited educational and employment opportunities.
In the 60s and 70s, that was a massive tailwind. And because I was surrounded by mostly similar people, I had no idea of the advantage this offered.
I cruised through this portion of my life on a tailwind of privilege.
Contrast my circumstances with the kids at the Home of Hope. They’ve been surrounded their entire lives by deprivation, neglect, and abuse. Every day of their young lives has involved fighting a stiff headwind.
Just as I did nothing to deserve my tailwind, they certainly didn’t earn the headwind that makes their lives such a battle.
Getting to know Jesus has, I think, impacted me in two ways.
First, I’m more aware of my privilege. And more aware of Jesus’ invitation to share the fruits of that privilege.
Second, I’m more aware of the headwinds others face. I’m less likely to project my privileged viewpoint onto their circumstances. More willing, I guess, to travel a bit in their shoes.
I hope Jesus continues to open my eyes, to help me recognize my own tailwinds and others’ headwinds.