Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Accepting the difference for God’s Creation: Day for people with special skills
Isaiah 42: 16-20
v.16 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
During VBS a few years ago, we decided to play a trust game with the kids. We teamed two students together, blindfolded one as the other teammate had to direct them up and down the pews. The team that completed the challenge the fastest won. Unfortunately, we had one student flip over a pew and injure herself. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the safest game to play. It’s called the trust game because one teammate literally must put full faith and confidence with their physical well-being in the other in order achieve the task.
Despite the way the game ended, all the kids quickly came to understand the impact blindness can have on a person, even if it were for a brief moment.
Blindness can be in reference to a physical attribute or a spiritual condition. Physical blindness means the inability to see because of injury, disease, or a congenital condition. Spiritual blindness refers to how sin and wickedness cause a lack of spiritual awareness. During this week we recognize the many gifts and abilities God’s creation encompasses.
If taken in the literal sense, this verse is so comforting. Our Lord will not forsake the blind but will lead them in ways they could not have imagined! All the things we see as disadvantages will be changed because the Lord is with them. Spiritual blindness is more of a detriment in our relationship with Christ than physical blindness.
Some people might feel a sense of sorrow when thinking of individuals with disabilities. We might not even know the proper terminology to use when referencing our brothers and sisters with disabilities. In fact, The National Center on Disability and Journalism even created a disability language style guide. In recent years there has even been a push to change the term from disability which has a negative stigma, to the term “para-ability”.
As a church, it is our responsibility, to afford every opportunity to our brothers and sisters. If the Lord assures us of His grace and guidance, then we as a church must empower, provide, and enable our people to bless us as a community. I’m reminded of Franny Crosby, a blind woman who blessed generations of believers with her song, “Blessed Assurance”. Our responsibility is to stand side by side with these brothers and sisters of and together sing, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gifts and blessings you provided to each and every person. Although we’ve been given different abilities and talents, we thank you that we can all use our gifts to glorify your name. AMEN
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“I thank God for my handicaps for, through them I have found myself, my work and my God.” – Helen Keller
Dr. Ron Jacob, Long Island MTC
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church