Did you see that the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force is black? With all that’s going on, he had unanimous approval by the Senate, and according to the Washington Post, “He is honored and humbled to serve…” I like that attitude. He’s General Charles Q. “CQ” Brown, ROTC graduate of Texas Tech and fighter pilot.

I was sad to read that he has experienced racism in the military. I’ve always believed that the military was ahead of many civilian organizations: I’ve worked for black officers, worked with black officers, and had black officers working for me. But upon reflection, I have to confirm General Brown’s assertion that he was “often the only African-American in my squadron,” and as a senior officer, “the only African-American in the room,” as quoted in the NY Times. I never thought about how those black officers I worked with felt about being the only one.

I wish General Brown well, and I think we can learn from his attitude toward racial challenges:

I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have impacted members of our Air Force. I’m thinking about how I can make improvements. – General CQ Brown as quoted in the NY Times.

We can’t fix centuries of racism in our country either, but we can think about how we can make improvements: drip by drip, living out the Gospel daily, and holy moments.

If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. (Isaiah 58.9 – 12, ESV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6.8, NIV