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What Percent of My DNA is Shared with Other “Races?”

Diversity training make you nervous? Will the trainer be angry, have a hidden agenda, desire to make you feel guilty, or despise your type, whatever that is? What about recent conversation about differences? Have they gone well, or did they result in name calling, blaming or even resentment? Were you genuinely changed, or did you leave more entrenched?

I Am Done is committed to working across cultures (and to connecting people to other ministries and churches that are better suited to meet their respective needs). As such, we will learn how to work courageously but also wisely and humbly in this space. Within this spirit, God ordained a day with a wise soul, Dr. Adrianne Fletcher, to facilitate our growth. Joining us were allies, friends, and local leaders.

What does it mean to work across cultures? Think of any group that does not adhere to the general principles and “ways” that your “culture” assumes to be normal. Most of you may be thinking this is a color-thing — consider the following examples.

  • Millennials and Generation Z-ers
  • Baby-boomer evangelical men and emerging church skinny jean men
  • Liberal blacks and conservative blacks
  • Catholics and protestants
  • Dark skinned blacks and lighter skinned blacks
  • Women and men
  • People of color and those with less melanin
  • College educated white collar and blue collar
  • Are there more “cultures” than you initially thought?

Think of anyone you pre-judged when you initially met? Sadly, some of these pre-judgements are grounded in valid experiences, but should that apply to the person you are just meeting?

How would you feel if you were never pre-judged again?

Back to our starting question: What percent of my DNA is shared with other “races?”

99.2%

The other 0.8% is due primarily to geography. For example, if you originated from a hot, sunny climate, you are more likely to have darker skin. Are most native Scandinavians dark-skinned ? What does this mean?

Biologically, race does not exist. Let’s say that again. Biologically, race is not a thing. Race is a sociological construct.

We learned we share 99.2% or so of our DNA with any and every human on this planet, male or female. The parts I do not share are based primarily on the geography of my descendants.

We will add discussions on what we are learning about working cross-culturally, and if you want my cliff notes . . .

Set myself aside

This does not mean that I give up my values nor myself, but am I willing to patiently listen and sit with others? For example, will I visit their home, eat their food, and listen to their stories? Will I pause and learn, or must I overwhelm them with my values, opinions, and platforms?

Love

The simplest yet maybe the most complicated of words. Will I love them, especially if they are NOT just like me, from one of my sociologically crafted “cultures?”

What would happen if we started doing even these two things?

We will be conducting more training with Dr. Fletcher, pictured above with Jordan, one of our leaders. If invited, we hope you would consider attending.

By the way, why Dr. Fletcher? Imagine intense kindness, genuine gentleness, deep wisdom, and intentional patience as the source of your facilitation. Her motives were beautiful, her methods were engaging, and her skill and experience were evident. If you want to engage with her directly, contact us and we will forward your information to her.

Lord, help me to love others, especially those I don’t easily understand.

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Road Rage? No, Road Repose.

How many things aren’t tainted by darkness?

The more I observe, the more I’m convinced we have been seduced and slumbered by the matrix. Would examples be helpful?

God’s word says: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Phil 2:3-4).

But, our favorite entrainment says: win at all costs, get revenge, self-promote, it is ALL about our own interests.

I hear believers gush over media that inculcates the exact opposite of God’s character, clearly disregarding the directive to guard our hearts as the wellsprings of our lives — garbage in, garbage out.

We allow darkness to disciple us, then we find living with and for Christ a challenge.

God’s word says: Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle which feed among the lilies. Until [f]the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense (song of Solomon 4:5-6).

Scripture describes passionate lovemaking between a husband and a wife, not being coy about two breasts like fawns and the mountain of myrrh. God designed sex as a stunning gift to be enjoyed in the sanctity of godly marriage — He created delight, orgasm, sensuality, beauty, strength, touch and so much more.

But endless messages marginalize and degrade virgins as fools even as science affirms that faithfulness brings greater joy — less than 5% of couples who wait until their marriage night divorce — across all cultures and faiths, or non-faiths.

The enemy embalms us in the devaluation of sex, then we wonder why our lives endure endless drama, disappointment, manipulation, shame and pain.

God’s word says: something brilliant and wise . ..

. . . but the enemy counters with its lies, and then leverages our old man and the world to make evil sound good, and goodness sound countercultural, mean spirited, even  bad.

Can you think of your own examples of God’s truth corrupted in practice? 

So, what can I do? How can I navigate this? It depends on what you want. Truth be told, it can feel good, in the moment, to engage in sin, but the dark delight will ultimately bring death and destruction with deep layers of shame and self-accusation.

Step one:

Do you think God stunning beyond words? If not, alternatives will steal your gaze.

Step two:

Get really close to Him? Suggestions.

  • Read you bible– Learn what is brilliant and great for you. Having walked alongside people for decades, I can say simply — God’s plan works.
  • Go to a church– It is chic to dis “organized religion” or “the church,” especially within Christendom. I can suggest many great places, all imperfect, but all with people just like you and me, struggling yet desiring to grow.
  • Pray– I guarantee you’ll struggle with this. Few actually pray, and it is brilliant. Click here, and get this very short yet entertaining book on prayer.
  • Arm Yourself– It says we are to put on the full armor of God every day. Why? How many examples must I spell out to make the presence and impact of our enemy upon your world, your relationships and your emotions clear?
  • Hang with Pappa – How have I seen this? One man says each of his paintings is a prayer (alla Monet). Another gets close to god creating music. I employ a great cigar, the outdoors, my bible, and a journal. Others dance, or sit, or pray, or work out. Some blast worship music as they drive or drive in silence and speak with God. What is your way to be close with God?

The enemy takes what God intends for good and twists it to make it dark, sometimes with almost imperceptible shifts and other times with obscene transformations.

Want to discern whether what you value is actually good and true? See Step Two above.

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Five Simple Steps to a Completely Healed Heart(*)?

(*) If only this were possible

The “me” you meet, whether I know it or not, is revealed through:

  • The impacts and influences of my family of origin, or lack thereof.
  • The vows and agreements from and through which I live.
  • The gender-, socioeconomic-, cultural-, generational-, or political-lenses through which I see and judge the world.
  • The trauma I’ve experienced, whether I can remember it or not.
  • My understanding of and engagement with sex, healthy or otherwise.
  • The lies I believe about myself, and about others.
  • My style of relating.
  • Years of motive-laden self-talk, all too often negative, destructive or angry.
  • My understanding, or lack-thereof, of theology and philosophy.
  • Healthy and unhealthy relationships, including many levels of betrayal.
  • My sin and my old man/woman.
  • And more.

Every person we meet has a story. Heck, you have a story. It is almost shocking that we still survive in spite of them.

So how can we pursue healing and integration, or wholeness? There are many approaches, and our contribution is to allow God to expose the lies that have corrupted your understanding of your true identity and value.

THINK IT TRUE THAT OUR IDENTITIES AND VALUES HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED? As one of many possible tests: How do you react to a compliment? Must you drink-it-in as all too important to define your worth? Do you deflect it because it is impossible that you are “beautiful” or “courageous?” Or, can you genuinely thank them for it, understanding your gifting simply is true?

We invite you onto a journey (each story is unique so your journey will be your own) that allows God to replace the shame inducing lies and accusations with His glorious truths about you. This won’t solve all of your problems, but it can transform your very foundation upon which a new you, the one God intended before you were even born, can emerge.

Want to learn more? You can read the works of John and Stasi Edredge, Dan Allender, or Isaiah 6:1-3 as a start. You can also join us at one of our events where people have used words such as “freedom” and “healing” to summarize what happened there.

The negativity and darkness you have tragically come to believe about yourself, intentionally or otherwise, can be replaced. We’ve seen it in hundreds ourselves, and we’ve seen others awaken it in thousands across the globe.

We welcome your thoughts or reactions below. We also look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events.