Hello,
Today I heard something that I know wasn’t meant to say what I heard,
but when I heard it, I thought, “That’s not right.”
I was travelling over Chestnut Ridge on my way to work this morning
listening to National Public Radio catching up on the news. One of the news stories was about this
virus that is “exploding” in South America that may be linked to babies being
born with too small a skull. As
you may know, the governments in the affected areas are advising women not to
get pregnant for a while, saying, “No one wants a disabled child.”
That was it, “No one wants a disabled child.” That just didn’t sound right in my ears. I wonder how that was heard by the
millions and millions of parents who have a disabled child. Would they say that they “don’t want”
their disabled child? I know that
disabled children and their difficulties can add stress and strain to life, but
I also know that disabled children can certainly open a parent’s heart in ways
that cannot be measured.
I suspect that those government
officials really meant, “Everyone wants a healthy child,” but maybe the words
that they chose unveiled a painful truth that really brings more stress and
strain to life, and that is that even healthy isn’t good enough….what people want
is a perfect child….which translates into the pressure that the world puts on
us, that we need to be perfect.
There’s an undercurrent of thought that bleeds into our thinking that
says if people are perfect, life is smoother. I know that I feel that undercurrent tugging at me…tugging
at me making me fear making a mistake, tugging at me entangling my
relationships with stress and strain, tugging at me adding pressure and
misdirection to my work. As I look
around, I see it taking root in children who have to go to sports camps in
elementary school, undertake specialized tutoring to excentuate their
giftedness, and only eat foods that lead to ideal bodies. It is all done in the name of giving a
person a competitive edge in our highly competitive world, but I believe that
underneath it all is the message….”You need to be perfect.”
Thing is, that is a goal that will never be reached. No one will ever be perfect. Every one of us will fall short. Every one of us will mess up. Every one of us will see in ourselves
disablities.
So, in this world that demands perfection, I am glad that there is a
place that does not. I am glad
that there is a place that takes me as I am….that welcomes me with my
shortcomings and frailties….that acknowledges that I will never be
perfect….that doesn’t just tolerate me in my brokenness, but loves me in
it….that doesn’t give up on me when I mess up, but embraces me. I am glad for that place, and that
place is the community of people who bear the name of Jesus Christ, Christians.
I am glad that there is a place where the door will never be shut on me,
no matter how wrecklessly I have messed things up. I am glad that there is a place that doesn’t kick me in the
teeth when I have fallen, but instead lifts me up. I am glad that there is a place where I am not laughed at
and ridiculed for my foolishness.
I am glad that there is a place that seeks to understand my struggles
rather than simply think they know what my struggles are like.
I am glad that there is a place that is glad to have someone who is
disabled…glad to love someone who is disabled…glad to embrace someone who is
disabled….because that someone is me.
I am glad that there is a place that doesn’t expect people to be
perfect, because I know that I will never be perfect.
So, if you’re not perfect, know this….there is a place that doesn’t
expect you to be….the community of Jesus Christ, the church. Come and see what it is like to be in a
place where “disabled” people are wanted, and through the likes of us “disabled”
people, Jesus Christ does amazing things!
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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