A Little Black Boy's Question

I recently heard a story that both grieves my heart and provides a glimmer of hope. The story was conveyed to me by a retired public school principal. For the sake of this post, let's call him, Jack. Jack is a Christian; Jack was the principle at an ethnically diverse school; Jack is white.

One day Jack was asked to teach the youth at a predominantly African-American church. He accepted the invitation. On Sunday, and at the completion of his lesson, a young black boy--I use the term boy because he was young--placed his hand politely in the air to signal he had a question. This was the question he asked Jack.

"When I go to school during the week, why am I surrounded by, and have interactions with, white children, but when I come to church there are no white children here?"

Jack was at a loss for words.

The question grieves my heart because we live in a world where, even in the church, we are segregated. (Before I am accused of being naive, yes I know there are reasons for our segregation, but I do not have to like it). Despite my heavy heart, this young boy's question provides a glimmer of hope because some people, even a young black boy, are asking the right questions. I take comfort that people are willing to question the obvious and in some cases, though this was not an element in the story, seek to do something about it.

Does segregation in Christ's Church grieve you? Does it provide a reason to mourn? If so, what can we do about it to see change?