The Whole Body Matters
There are those around me who prefer solitude. Spending time alone is where they are happiest. I, on the other hand, am a social person! I enjoy being around and talking with others. In fact, I’ve discovered when I can’t be around people, I’m likely to become, while not clinically depressed, but at some level, sad. It absolutely can alter my mood! I need my ‘community’! This comes in the form of family, friends, and my church family, all of whom, I cherish.
EXCLUDED AND ISOLATED
The disability people group often struggles when not with ‘community’. They feel excluded and isolated from their immediate surroundings because accessibility is sometimes unforgiving! Entrance into workplaces, business, schools and even public areas can be inhibiting, depending on their disability. Even if a physical disability doesn’t inhibits actual entry, social stigma plays an active role in determining community inclusion.
BENEFITS OF INCLUSION
The benefits of striving for inclusion is huge for both the disabled and their non-disabled counterparts. It can teach compassion, acceptance and humility. The different types of disabilities provide the opportunity to better understand struggles another may be having.
We all have frustrations, but many of us can hide our frustration when in the public sector. As we understand how someone may not be able to hide a frustration or disappointment, we are learning compassion. As we learn, we also form a level of humility which is vital to our personal sense of worth and our ability to care about someone else.
TALENTS AND GIFTS
We all have talents and gifts; not a few of us, but all of us! Because each of these is unique, there are great opportunities for fresh perspectives, on any given subject. Additionally, personalities vary greatly, so personal circumstances, offers another value to a conversation and perhaps an answer to something, which otherwise might never have been thought of!
DO WE SEE?
I wonder, however, for those of us not disabled, if we even think about those who do have some type of disability? We’re all busy; have lives that run at a pace of the Road Runner, and calendars filled with appointments nearly every day of the week. While we are at the mall, grocery store or any public place, unless a disabled person comes into our view, do we even give them notice? Do we wonder what it must be like to deal with their frustrations and disappointments, day in and day out?
COMMUNITY AFFECTS EVERYONE
Community affects all of us, albeit differently. We all want to belong, whether it’s in our workplace, our neighborhood or even within our church congregations. Often, due to specific limitations our disabled neighbors are segregated; even sometimes ostracized. It may not be intentional. It’s just that we are living our own lives, with our own problems and would rather not be burdened with someone else’s.
A BURDEN
That ‘burden’ idea is another drawback to being disabled. No one wants to think of themselves as a ‘burden’. But are we afraid if we become cordial or actually become ‘friends with’ a person who has a disability, we’re going to inherit responsibility?
Interestingly enough, friendship requires looking after our neighbor! As a ‘friend’ we want to help in their time of need. It’s not always convenient. Sometimes we don’t even know how to respond, much like when someone is grieving. We just don’t know what to say. Usually the best thing is honesty. Ask what they need, and just like you would help any other able-bodied person, you help a disabled one.
TEACHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
As mentioned earlier, it’s a great way to extend understanding, deeper compassion and do the right thing. When we can do this, we are being Christ-like and teaching our young people how to play a central role in community integration. Additionally, we will be welcoming and accepting our neighbors just as Christ asked us to.
THE WHOLE BODY MATTERS
We are all part of a larger community—-and the whole body matters! Belonging isn’t about performance, or what we can do in our community, workplace or churches, so others can see. It’s about being present in the lives of others, just like Jesus was—and still is!