I don’t want to take blessings for granted.

So I appreciate articles like the one I read awhile back from a famous pastor entitled, “More on Ferguson and White Privilege.” It was articles like this that helped our country cast aside all the progress we’ve made eliminating racism and dedicate our energies on solving problems that don’t exist.

Like so many of my people,

I’ve overlooked many of my privileges. I didn’t even REALIZE I had this privilege.

It is something that I’ve enjoyed my entire life, without even thinking about it.

The freedom to put my hands in my pockets

…anytime

…anyplace.

This is a direct quote from the article that convicted me of my unearned, unacknowledged privilege:

“I don’t have to warn my son in the same ways that a black dad has to warn his son. I have never had to coach my son on how to keep his hands out of his pockets when going through a convenience store. Many of my black brothers are having these conversations with their boys now. Again, the list goes on.”

It’s time to acknowledge my privilege. It’s time for me to admit my shame!

I put my hands in my pockets A LOT.

Not just in convenience stores, in other public places too!

Grocery store.

Hardware store.

School.

Even CHURCH!

The list goes on.

I’m ashamed to admit it but, I’ve never even thought about how fortunate this makes me.

Never had a moment of consideration for all the folks for whom putting their hands in their pockets is an impossible dream. I’ve absent mindedly reached into my pocket countless times without giving thought to the people around me who looked on enviously.

Forgive me, you people with your bare knuckles hanging out!

I’ve never noticed you.

Always looked right through you.

I could make excuses:

“My hands were cold…”

“It was getting my car keys…”

“It’s a comfortable posture for strolling…”

But we all know the truth.

I put my hands in my pockets because

I’m a privileged white male!

Oh!

It feels good to finally speak the truth!

Like a weight has been lifted off my…

No!

Like a weight has been dumped from my pockets!

A weight I didn’t know I was carrying.

There have been millions of articles like this one. Each one chips away at our unity. Each one makes us a little more suspicious of each other.

As the enlightened, mega-church leader states,

I’m completely blind to my privilege.

Blindness makes me think terrible, racist thoughts like:

“No matter what color your skin happens to be, when you’re inside a store, it’s a good idea to try not to look like a shoplifter.”

How many more things am I wrong about?

Please, help this blind man see!

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:28