Being an accepting, inclusive, and not completely $#!^^y human

 

The following is reproduced from the Facebook page of Diary of a Mom:

Let’s talk about the folks who are trying to backtrack on mocking Gus Walz because they didn’t know he had a disability.

Right. Okay. So …

Let’s start with the fact that he’s a seventeen year old kid who was so proud of his dad, whom he obviously loves deeply, that he was moved to tears. That’s beautiful, and a hell of a testament to their relationship. 

But sure, some people thought his reaction was over the top and “weird.” And therefore fair game. Until they heard he has a disability. 

(So, to recap, it would have been a-okay in that crowd to bully a typical kid for *acting atypical* but maybe he should be off limits now that they know he has a diagnosis.)

Pull up a chair, won’t you, friends? 

Being an accepting, inclusive, and not completely shitty human isn’t about having access to everyone’s medical records. It’s about humanity. It’s about not having to know that there’s a label for a fellow human’s unique constellation of strengths and challenges in order to approach them with compassion. 

It’s about not needing an explanation for why someone comes across a little - or a lot - differently from the average bear in order to indulge their quirks, celebrate their differences, support their challenges and accommodate their access needs, to give them extra time and love and leeway.

Labels / diagnoses / identities are important and valid and helpful in a million different ways, but they shouldn’t ever be the ticket that we demand from others before granting them entry into the arena of our empathy. The only fare needed is humanity.

So lay off the kid. Not just because he has a disability, but because he’s human, and that’s reason enough. 

{image is a photo of Gus joyfully hugging his Dad on stage last night, flanked by his sister, Hope, and his mom, Gwen, who is just out of the frame.}

The Fruit of the Spirit

 

The fruit of the Spirit is...
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.

 - Galatians 5:22-23

Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord

 

Sr Mary McGlone writes by way of reflection on this Sunday's readings in the National Catholic Reporter:

In our history, we Christians have missed the mark on carrying out much (most?) of what Jesus tried to teach. In the name of Christ, a shameful number of men went crusading to destroy unbelievers. The Council of Trent found it necessary to prohibit such egregious abuses of the Eucharist as paying priest celebrants according to how long they could hold up the host for the people to adore.

In the U.S., some Christians saw it as their duty to carry out outlandish "proofs" that allowed them to put "witches" to death. In the name of freedom of religion, we have privatized our faith to the point that many feel free of responsibility to the common good, believing that all God desires is that we will each save our soul.

Worst of all, we have found ways to justify all of this by citing Scripture — selectively.

St. Paul warned the Ephesians about this kind of distorted theology, saying: "Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons, but as wise ... do not continue in ignorance." He said, "the days are evil." 

Each of the deformations of Christianity mentioned above came from self-serving interpretations of Scripture, interpretations that employed fear and magic as well as bigoted exercises of power over others.

… How are we to know if we are following Paul's advice to seek the will of God rather than interpreting like the Crusaders?  … Instead of accepting inadequate interpretations of the Gospel, Christ invites us into an ongoing, mystical spiral of tasting and seeing the goodness of the Lord. 

Read the rest of Sr McGlone's reflection on the readings for this Sunday here…