Living Inclusively
Living truly inclusive lives is very difficult. I find that few people are inclusive with any but their immediate families. How do can you be totally inclusive without losing your identity? Or should we?
It could have something to do with how we really see humanity and being human. It could have something to do with our own feelings of doubt about our own worth. I guess if we are to lose ourselves into Christ, one way to do that is in relationships. When we find the humility to be in right relationship with everyone and everything, then we will find shalom and an inclusive life. I think that Henri Nouwen wrote about that experience in "Adam".
As we go through life we will make decisions that may lead us away from our present relationships, at least temporarily. I have friends that I see often, and others that I don't see frequently. However, when my heart leaps at the thought of them or when I do see them, these are true friends. It doesn't matter whether it has been 2 days or 2 years, we can pick up right where we left off. Anyone else is a colleage or just someone I know.
I guess the point of this ramble is that when we talk of inclusive lives, we are talking about several things. One is relationship, another is inclusion, and the other is refusing to participate in exclusion.
Who do we long to spend time with? When we plan a party, who do we decide to invite, and who do we decide to omit? Do we have events that include individuals that have disabilities and others that do not and why?
It could have something to do with how we really see humanity and being human. It could have something to do with our own feelings of doubt about our own worth. I guess if we are to lose ourselves into Christ, one way to do that is in relationships. When we find the humility to be in right relationship with everyone and everything, then we will find shalom and an inclusive life. I think that Henri Nouwen wrote about that experience in "Adam".
As we go through life we will make decisions that may lead us away from our present relationships, at least temporarily. I have friends that I see often, and others that I don't see frequently. However, when my heart leaps at the thought of them or when I do see them, these are true friends. It doesn't matter whether it has been 2 days or 2 years, we can pick up right where we left off. Anyone else is a colleage or just someone I know.
I guess the point of this ramble is that when we talk of inclusive lives, we are talking about several things. One is relationship, another is inclusion, and the other is refusing to participate in exclusion.
Who do we long to spend time with? When we plan a party, who do we decide to invite, and who do we decide to omit? Do we have events that include individuals that have disabilities and others that do not and why?
posted by Arthur Seale at 9:12 PM
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