What determines our identity? Our core being?
If I ask my mother who I am and what my identity is, the answer might be creative and knowledgeable. My doctor would say hard working. My students would perhaps say, I hope they do, engaging and knowledgeable. I have even heard from a student that I was wise, but I doubt she knew the depth of that word. Friends might call me whimsical. People that don't want to relate to me as a person take the easy option and label me disabled.
Disability has never been my identity. And nothing hurts more than to be told "stick to your peers". Who are my peers? I'd rather hang out with my sisters in Christ or my co-workers than with my so-called peers in wheelchairs. I do have friends that do use a wheelchair, but they are not their chair nor their disability. They are solid people with humour, guts, insight and are highly educated.
Yearly we have a disability pride parade, and previously I have attended. But the experience put me off. Why should we celebrate anomalies? Why should I celebrate an identity based on my disability?
(And why should people celebrate their gender or sexual preferences in a parade? Isn't that to reduce themselves to mere lust? )
People are complex, and we should all be careful labelling individuals based on features that catches our attention. God has created us all in His image. Why some of us end up disabled, sick or tormented has been troubling mankind since Job. Job's friends were the most supportive when they didn't speak, but when they tried to label or find a reason for his troubles, they just added more to the burden. Perhaps the lesson learnt here is to listen before labelling someone not worthy of you attention. Because in Christ we are all sinners and peers. And it is in Christ we find our true identity.
If I ask my mother who I am and what my identity is, the answer might be creative and knowledgeable. My doctor would say hard working. My students would perhaps say, I hope they do, engaging and knowledgeable. I have even heard from a student that I was wise, but I doubt she knew the depth of that word. Friends might call me whimsical. People that don't want to relate to me as a person take the easy option and label me disabled.
Disability has never been my identity. And nothing hurts more than to be told "stick to your peers". Who are my peers? I'd rather hang out with my sisters in Christ or my co-workers than with my so-called peers in wheelchairs. I do have friends that do use a wheelchair, but they are not their chair nor their disability. They are solid people with humour, guts, insight and are highly educated.
Yearly we have a disability pride parade, and previously I have attended. But the experience put me off. Why should we celebrate anomalies? Why should I celebrate an identity based on my disability?
(And why should people celebrate their gender or sexual preferences in a parade? Isn't that to reduce themselves to mere lust? )
People are complex, and we should all be careful labelling individuals based on features that catches our attention. God has created us all in His image. Why some of us end up disabled, sick or tormented has been troubling mankind since Job. Job's friends were the most supportive when they didn't speak, but when they tried to label or find a reason for his troubles, they just added more to the burden. Perhaps the lesson learnt here is to listen before labelling someone not worthy of you attention. Because in Christ we are all sinners and peers. And it is in Christ we find our true identity.
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