Nougat 3

Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about our interactions with people on the margins

““Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Thirty eight years

That’s a long time to have a disability.

Now before you start to tell me how wrong I am, I’ll remind us that there was a negative attitude to disabilities then – they were cast outside community.

So if you bumped into the man who’d been living away from home by a poolside on your way to worship, what would you do? Note, he wasn’t begging – but might have been a little filthy.

How do we treat persons with disabilities? Is it aligned with our profession or Faith? Some of us think ‘just a little more faith’ can help the person. Others have already concluded that the family’s sins are responsible. Yet others believe it’s genetics. And all three are distinct possibilities. But none of those addresses how we respond to people with disabilities.

Do we ‘see’ them as individuals with their own personalities and perspectives on life, or are they reduced to their disabilities? We note that he was responding to a question from Jesus, which tells us that although he was lame and awaiting healing/help, he was capable of having normal conversations. What is our faith response?

It is my prayer that we are among the ones who are open to affirming, respecting and protecting the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.

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May all we seek be found in Christ