australia accepted 200000 boat people, page-111

Yes this phobia some have must put a strain on a meaningful existence.

By way of example I was walking towards a Catholic church to attend a mass for someone who had passed away a month earlier. Another person was heading towards the same church and started chatting with me. Along the way he pointed to a person across the road who looked like a young black African who was eating what looked like a takeaway burger and muttered to me "its not safe to walk in the street anymore its disgraceful". I was bemused by the comment but anyway I lost sight of the young man eating and we both arrived at the Church grounds and walked into the church and I sat on one side of the aisle with people I knew and the chap that made the comment sat on the other side of the aisle.

Anyway, soon everyone stood up as the signal was given that the priest and alter boys were entering the church to start the mass. As the entourage passed me I looked at the priest and a smile enveloped my face. It was the black African looking young man who we had seen eating the burger. I looked straight across at the chap in the other aisle and saw his jaw had dropped having realised it was the same person he had commented about while we walked towards the church. After a wonderful mass and inspiring sermon by the young priest as I was leaving the other chap came up to me and very sheepishly said Lord forgive me I got that wrong, I shouldn't jump to conclusions just because of another persons appearance(he meant colour).

Is there a lesson in this? Maybe?