Pastor’s Column 2/8/2026

PASTOR’S COLUMN​

⁵ “I am black  and beautiful,  O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

⁶ Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. They made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!”         Song of Solomon 1:5-6, NRSV

                                                                                           ​       “2nd Sunday – Expressing God’s Gift!”

The bias toward physical traits that do not conform with what people assume is the norm, is an age-old divisive spirit. Contrary to what some people might think, the Bible is not “silent” on issues and perceptions , which are used to denigrate and oppress segments of a given population. God may be above ethnicity, race and culture, but He is neither silent nor removed from the language and actions that people use to assert power over others, by denigrating persons whom they deem are different. The attack on the physicality of others is very old, and it is neither ignored nor suborned in the Scriptures. The affirmation the young woman makes concerning the beauty of her unique selfhood as a Black person is a sacredcelebration of her joy of being the person God intended her to be. The young woman’s statement, “I am black and beautiful,” is really a song of praise for the confidence she has in the self, God has created her to be. It is bold confidence rather than boasting. As the woman points out, she is surrounded by others – even kin- who scorn her for being “so dark.” Their inability to see the woman as God does, lessens their humanity. She is consigned to the vineyards to toil in the scorching heat of the sun. The confidence the woman has reinforces her ability to increase her joy, rather than cancel it. We here persons who are in [limited] positions of power using vitriolic tones to denounce and speak of “cancelling” the institutional and national expressions of our history – the achievements we have made to help build this country – we are more defiant to speak and display our truth. Solomon echoes this woman who represents our hope, heritage, and future. He lauds her confidence!