The Disabled God

Nancy Eiseland has captured my heart and mind with her writings on the Disabled God. Her essential premise is that the Church (and society) have tried to "normalize" people of different abilities by ignoring them, attempting to heal them, or treating them poorly by neglecting their needs. Eiseland goes on to write that the Church is to embrace all people, especially people we call "disabled" because Jesus himself was disabled. When Christ returned to the disciples he came bearing the story of his death with the scars on his body. He had puncture marks, holes, that bore into his skin. By any stretch of the imagination, this is not perfection for the body. Yet, the Church all too often doesn't see people of different abilities as being able to contribute to the overall well being of the body of Christ.
This past week I have been struck by two different thoughts concerning what Eiseland writes. First, I have firmly come to believe that the people who are classified as "normal" (ie "whole physically, emotionally, and mentally) are not normal at all. They are actually not in the majority. In fact, most people will be in the category of disabled for at least a portion of their life. Further, those whom society deems "normal" are actually at a disadvantage. When people have to struggle for something, have faced alientation, and have fought with their body due to the dualistic nature of society, yet have emerged, they can more fully embrace themselves in the image of Christ. People with disabilities also connect on a deeper level, if given the chance to process, with the risen Christ, bearing the marks of alientation on the lonesome cross but arising victorious. When life comes easy to "normal" people, what story can they tell and what impact can they make? Especially if they are hiding under the gise of being "normal" when really they bear the image of the Disabled God somewhere physically, emotionally, or mentally.
Second, the Church has often claimed that when we get to Heaven we will be restored in new bodies. I have often heard people who are suffering on this earth that its okay because when they get to Heaven they will be able to walk, or have two arms, or be as smart as everyone else. I believe that this is a lie. We have extended the absence of sorrow to mean absence of struggle. And we think that anyone that doesn't look or think or learn or feel like us must be feeling a deep sense of sorrow. But what if they aren't? What if God created them as they are, fully in the Divine image, for a purpose? Would we want to be responsible for denying them their purpose? Some people long for healing in a rejuginitve way, and maybe they will get it in Heaven, but we shouldn't assume that is what Heaven is about - granting us our every wish and desire, just like we shouldn't assume that everyone who isn't like us is in need of or desires healing.

Oh God, please forgive our ignorance and inability to embrace everyone as a Child of the Living Lord. May we see with your eyes, reach with your hands, and hear with your ears. Banish from us the concepts of normal and disabled and replace it with 'important member of the body of Christ' where people are not judged on ability but simple presence. Amen.