Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
“Saul's sons were Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eschbaal. Jonathan's son Merib-baal fathered Micah. The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.” 1 Chronicles 8 33b-35
“Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son
crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the report of Saul
and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled.
And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame.
And his name was Mephibosheth.” 2 Samuel 4:4
A Chronicle is by definition “a
factual written account of important or historical events in the
order of their occurrence.” [1] It is a historical account of
events. According to my Bible Commentary, “What the chronicler is
recording for his people is a history of Israel from their first
ancestor to the end of their Babylonian exile. This history reminds
the Jews of their ancient status and God's chosen nation and of their
illustrious ancestors' work to form the nation.” [2]
When I was young and read my first
history book, I thought I was reading the complete historical facts
from the time that were documented in record. I memorized the key
“facts” and was tested on them in school.
Later, I discovered that there were
other history books which had a completely different factual account
of some of these exact same situations. What I realized, was that
history books are actually an account of situations from the
author's perspective for the purpose of bringing you to think and
believe the way they do about the situations being presented.
This is not a bad thing in itself.
Historic stories are powerful and have a way of sticking with people.
It is great for a community to have shared beliefs and stirs a
connectedness among people.
Chronicles do a great job of
representing God in control and focusing on events unfolding with
seeing the connection to the people of Israel's faithfulness (or
unfaithfulness) to God. People can more clearly make connections of
cause and effect and see the bigger story that is going on.
One important connector for the people
of Israel was lineage. The Chronicler traces lineage all the way
back to Adam and Eve. These roots were important in seeing that the
Israelites were God's people, right from the beginning. The stories
of their ancestors stirred their faith, connection to God and
connection to each other.
However, notice the Chronicler leaves
off Mephibosheth from the recorded lineage of Johnathan? Historically, like women, people
with disabilities have been under represented in some ways.
In the time of Jesus, they were frequently seen as sinners who were being punished by God rather than a gift to be celebrated. In John 9:2-3, Jesus passes passed by a man blind from birth. It says, “And His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.…'”
In the time of Jesus, they were frequently seen as sinners who were being punished by God rather than a gift to be celebrated. In John 9:2-3, Jesus passes passed by a man blind from birth. It says, “And His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.…'”
Hitler, in his mass genocide of Jewish
people, deemed the disabled as "useless" and used them to test his faculties. Nazi's first
had gathered up all people who were disabled and exterminated them.
Sadly, like a line missing in history, few people know this.
When I was young, people with
significant physical or mental disabilities were usually
institutionalized. My grandmother worked at a hospital where she
was a volunteer in caring for two little boys with significant
disabilities. She would go everyday to rock them, sing to them and
feed them. She called them her kids.
I went with her on an occasion. I sat
in the hospital with her in a large room and helped her to rock these
boys and feed them. What I discovered was that there was a whole
ward dedicated to caring for these kids. They were just lying there
in beds / cribs.... Because of the set-up, the ones
who cared for them were mainly hospital staff.
Fortunately, things have changed since
then and there was a worldwide movement to move children and adults
with disabilities out from institutions and into society where they can be loved and cared for among family and friends. At the time of change, it also came to light in the media that sometimes children and adults in
these institutions that were locked away were being
horribly abused.
Slowly
but surely there has been a movement toward integrating people with
disabilities and greater inclusion in the community. Rather than putting them away
somewhere where they feel separated, excluded, written off, or forgotten, the Olmstead Plan (which
came out of the 1999 Supreme Court Ruling in Olmstead v. L.C),
challenged the elimination of unnecessary segregation and the
supported placement of individuals with disabilities into community
settings. [3]
When I was a teen, there was a large community based units some blocks away for people with significant learning disabilities. A young lady in her early 20s lived in this place named Cosette. She was like a sister to me and would come spend the holidays with our family.
Ironically, Cosette is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables. In the story, she was abandoned child of an unmarried mother deserted by her father. Cosette's family abandoned her and her mother (who lived out of state) would rarely take her on holidays. She was disappointed about this but learned to make due with the community she was given around her.
This was by no means the norm - that families didn't love and support members who had disabilities. It was only one single experience. Most families, provide tremendous support, love and care to their members with disabilities. They are an incredibly important champion and advocate for their loved one(s). It is important that their loved one with disabilities have their nurturing family to surround them.
Sometimes because of the established system, for some families that would prefer differently, there have been few viable alternatives to caring for family members in care facilities. Loving families who were given to surround, heal, and support their members, have had to make hard and heart breaking choices based on available alternatives to provide needed support. Especially if care facilities may be at a significant distance.
Also, there are frequently not equal job opportunities that are enriching and fulfilling for people with disabilities. For Cosette, I remember that her only opportunity was factory type work in a day program. She wasn't that thrilled about the work and had abilities to do many other things. I also noticed this with my husband as he became legally blind. Slowly he was shut out from the workforce by his inability to fully see. Yet he has all his direct vision and has no problems doing many things.
Some years ago now I met this lady who had a significant learning disability. She was in a home where she had assistance for her daily living. She came up for prayer at the church I attended. As I was assisting with prayer, I helped her. She turned to me and had all these incredible prophetic words that spilled out for me. I was amazed. And over the next year, every one of them came to pass in my life. She was so gifted in this way. Rather than being celebrated for her incredible gifts, ironically, she told me stories of being shut down by others who treated her like a small child.
As some recent articles in the newspaper point out, we are still not always at a place of achieving the goal of community integration. The names of those with significant disabilities are not always found on the list of those most valued in the community for who they are. Yet they have so much to contribute and teach us about life.
• Live
more independentlySometimes because of the established system, for some families that would prefer differently, there have been few viable alternatives to caring for family members in care facilities. Loving families who were given to surround, heal, and support their members, have had to make hard and heart breaking choices based on available alternatives to provide needed support. Especially if care facilities may be at a significant distance.
Also, there are frequently not equal job opportunities that are enriching and fulfilling for people with disabilities. For Cosette, I remember that her only opportunity was factory type work in a day program. She wasn't that thrilled about the work and had abilities to do many other things. I also noticed this with my husband as he became legally blind. Slowly he was shut out from the workforce by his inability to fully see. Yet he has all his direct vision and has no problems doing many things.
Some years ago now I met this lady who had a significant learning disability. She was in a home where she had assistance for her daily living. She came up for prayer at the church I attended. As I was assisting with prayer, I helped her. She turned to me and had all these incredible prophetic words that spilled out for me. I was amazed. And over the next year, every one of them came to pass in my life. She was so gifted in this way. Rather than being celebrated for her incredible gifts, ironically, she told me stories of being shut down by others who treated her like a small child.
As some recent articles in the newspaper point out, we are still not always at a place of achieving the goal of community integration. The names of those with significant disabilities are not always found on the list of those most valued in the community for who they are. Yet they have so much to contribute and teach us about life.
Recognizing
the continued problems in our system for supporting those who are
disabled, the Olmstead Plan was fully adopted in MN in September of
2015. “The Olmstead Plan is a broad series of key activities our
state must accomplish to ensure people with disabilities are living,
learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting.
The Plan will help achieve a better Minnesota for all Minnesotans,
because it will help Minnesotans with disabilities have the
opportunity, both now and in the future to:
• Live
close to their family and friends• Engage in productive employment
• Participate in community life.
In
short, it will offer Minnesotans with disabilities opportunities just
like everyone else.” [4]
Today,
while there are still issues with the system and some of the
views around people with disabilities, we are moving towards a society of
greater integration and understanding. People have moved from the
viewpoint of shunning people with disabilities and leaving them off
the list of names, to greater inclusion. However, we are not there yet. People with disabilities are still not always fully celebrated for who they are - just as they are.
What does it look like to celebrate those around us with disabilities and include them? ... To see and know them for who they are?
I
notice when I go out with a close friend and mentor with disabilities
to a church event. At certain Christian events, people will approach
her and ask if they can pray for her. While she is always grateful for prayer and has received a lot of healing in her life, it is clear by their expressions that they feel God has something better for her that is different from who she is. She is such a gift to me and I
always think in my heart, if they only knew her, they would be asking
her to pray for them rather than vice versa.
What does it look like to celebrate those around us with disabilities and include them? ... To see and know them for who they are?
All
of us have a part in integrating and valuing those around us. We
all have a role to play in making this difference. We all know someone who may feel on the sidelines and needs to be included in something bigger than themselves. The one thing history has proven, all our lives will be enriched as a result.
2. The Voice Reader's Bible. Thomas Nelson.
3. For more information: http://www.ada.gov/olmstead/olmstead_about.htm
4. Taken from: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=opc_home
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