When we moved in there was a couple living across the hall. She was small, strong, determined, and fiercely loyal to her husband. He was in a wheelchair, could only grunt, and his body was ravaged by Parkinson's. He died last week, and suddenly all of Columbia was talking about him. Professor of Sociology. Strong advocate for peace with justice. Leader in every movement to stand beside the marginalized and oppressed for 50 years or so. He was a leader in his church, and a mentor to many in the community. People wrote letters in newspapers, on Facebook, and on his Obituary Page online. All I knew was he was in a wheelchair, couldn't talk, loved fried zucchini, and hated having to move to Assisted Living when his wife became unable to lift him. I often become frustrated not knowing who these people were before they came here. A lot of Professors, a Professional Football player, phenomenal musicians, and Mel West. I was in a conversation the other day with a man who not only knew about, but was actively involved with many of the projects my dad worked on. We enjoyed conversing with someone else who understood what we were each talking about.
Jesus met and interacted with many people who had been labeled by their communities: The whore, the tax collector, the Scribe, the Roman Soldier, the leper, etc. He looked beyond the reality of their current situation to the person within. He talked with them, he got to know the person behind the label. Where I live he would see beyond the Parkinson's guy in the wheelchair, the wanderer, the really grumpy old guy, the woman who never smiles, the woman who introduces herself to you every time you meet--even if its only been 5 minutes. He would take the time to sit down and listen as they talked about their past, their path, their hopes and dreams. It is the least we owe to those around us: to drop the labels and get to know the person, to honor the person, to hear the person, to love the person.
God, who sees through the labels and the outward appearance to the person within, we rejoice that in seeing us for who we really are, you love us. You know our hopes and dreams. You know our failures and foibles. You know our fears and faults. You know how very much we want to be a part of helping your reality to come to pass. Help us also to do that with and for the people around us, so that they might see and feel your love through us.......Amen.
Jesus met and interacted with many people who had been labeled by their communities: The whore, the tax collector, the Scribe, the Roman Soldier, the leper, etc. He looked beyond the reality of their current situation to the person within. He talked with them, he got to know the person behind the label. Where I live he would see beyond the Parkinson's guy in the wheelchair, the wanderer, the really grumpy old guy, the woman who never smiles, the woman who introduces herself to you every time you meet--even if its only been 5 minutes. He would take the time to sit down and listen as they talked about their past, their path, their hopes and dreams. It is the least we owe to those around us: to drop the labels and get to know the person, to honor the person, to hear the person, to love the person.
God, who sees through the labels and the outward appearance to the person within, we rejoice that in seeing us for who we really are, you love us. You know our hopes and dreams. You know our failures and foibles. You know our fears and faults. You know how very much we want to be a part of helping your reality to come to pass. Help us also to do that with and for the people around us, so that they might see and feel your love through us.......Amen.
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