Then, in Isaiah 64:8 (RSV), this acknowledgment: "O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we are the work of thy hand."

These verses remind me we're all unique. We can quantify aspects of our uniqueness. I am a white, Caucasian male.

There are other things that identify me as a part of a natural group. I am a Christian, a Baptist, a husband, father, and grandfather, and I can take advantage of virtually all senior citizen discounts. I was born in the United States, in the South, and am a veteran. I am a Certified Public Accountant who has enjoyed participating on the management teams of several large organizations. The list of natural groups goes on.

Each of us could make a list that describes various aspects of our heritage and our "being." The key for us from a personal and business perspective is to recognize we have differences, yet we are individuals wanting to be appreciated for what we can contribute to other people, to the organization employing us, and to society as a whole.

Last week, I participated in a "Building Community Through Diversity" workshop. While coordinated and sponsored by Baylor Health Care System, the workshop was developed by the National Coalition Building Institute. Our facilitators were Gregory Smith of Baylor's department of public safety and Dianne Berg, a professor at the University of North Texas. the workshop, one of the finest I've attended, had a good cross section of people from Baylor Health Care System. For virtually every attendee, the day was effective in "sharpening the saw" for us --mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually. We were striving to do what Stephen R. Covey challenges us to do in his books: to "seek first to understand, then to be understood."

A goal of the workshop was reducing personal prejudice in any form. We formed 10 "caucuses" on different forms of prejudice. Our assignment was to figure out: "What do you want people to never say, think, or do toward your group again?" It became very apparent as we reported back to the group how we generalize about people within a group, rather than assessing their personal values and potential contribution.

1. Acknowledge The Need
   
   None of us can avoid the implication of prejudice in our world today. We see it highlighted in our daily news! We see it or experience it at work, lending organizations, in the educational arena, in world affairs and even in religious circles!



2. Discover My Own Blind Spots
   
   Some of us think we're pretty open-minded about this issue. We love everybody! But there's the challenge to look inward, to focus on the issue...to determine our potential blind spots.



3. Recognize What Is Ingrained
   
   The example was given in our workshop about the "recording" we've made over the years in our lives. We have been "ingrained" by our culture and personal background. Once we acknowledge it, we can reprogram both our input and output.



4. Avoid Generalizations
   
   People want to be people! Individuals! While not denying our heritage, or the heritage of others, we should allow room for people's uniqueness. Most of us want to be seen as individuals, not grouped as a class.



5. Be Empathetic
   
   For me, when I want to improve on building relationships, it is helpful to "put myself in the other person's place." This conforms to our general understanding about how we need to deal with each other. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."



6. Value Uniqueness
   
   We had beautiful people in our workshop...all kinds of people! Since God created us uniquely, we need to value that uniqueness. This implies we not value it in the abstract....but concretely. See the beauty in diversity.



7. Have a Generous Spirit
   
   Be generous with people! Don't have a predetermined view based on previous experience! We need to give each other a break. Doing so will free all of us to enjoy life more and help our organization and community grow.



8. Be Discerning
   
   Be sensitive to the feelings of others. Strive to not be overly sensitive about how you've been hurt in the past. Work with people who have a different background than yours. Let your discernment provide opportunities for growth and enrich your life.



9. Really Listen
   
   Listening is the most important thing we can do to build effective relationships. There's tremendous power in listening. Listening opens the door to seeking agreement.



10. Make The Commitment
    
    Nothing happens on such sensitive issues as prejudice reduction and appreciation of diversity until we make a commitment. Our facilitator, Dianne Berg, said she was involved in this work for the past eight years because she "wants to make a difference in the world."