[blparent] Perspective on Blindness

[Jo Elizabeth Pinto]

Hi.  I'm not posting this to preach to anybody or offend anybody with religious content, or to make myself look good, either.  But a friend of mine who happens to be a pastor wrote an article for her church newsletter, and I think it offers a perspective on blindness that I've been trying to put into words for years.  Enjoy.

Pastoral Ponderings



Who Are You? Who are We?



    So, what do you do (occupation)?  Where do you live?  Do you have children?  Your favorite food, drink, song, movie, hobby...(on and on)?  Why do we ask each other these questions?  Answer:  we want to know one another.  We need to explore our connection to one another.  Who are you?  Who are we?  In those relationships and connections with one another, we discover our humanity (or lack thereof).  We define ourselves as much by the questions we ask as we do by the answers we give when asked.

Try it.  If you had to choose three words or phrases to describe who you are beyond your physical attributes, what would they be?  Perhaps uncle, Spurs fan, and drummer, or maybe student, video-gamer, and friend.  OK.  Is there something you'd put before those descriptions, something about you that's a part of everything else you are or do?

A friend of mine who has done amazing things in her life (mother, leader in her congregation, nonprofit grant-writer, advocate for the less fortunate, author, translator - among her many gifts) and happens to be blind, has struggled her whole life against being defined as the "blind girl/woman who..".  You see, Jo's blindness is a fact, like being a mom, or a writer, or.  If I had to describe her, I would say she is a Christian mother, Christian author, etc.  Likewise, she is a Christian woman who is blind, not a blind woman who happens to be Christian.  Jo's priorities are straight (and eternally focused).  Her faith colors and defines all else she is and does.

Think about how you spend your time, resources, and mental/spiritual energy (thoughts and prayers).  How would you be defined by your answers?  Let's say you're a dad and architect, for example.  Would you be a Christian dad who is an architect, or would you be a dad who is an architect and a Christian?  Who are you?  I am a Christian pastor, wife, and mother.  Being Christian is the foundation of who I am, as evidenced by how I spend my time, resources, and mental/spiritual energy.  Who are you?

Likewise, people want to know who we are as a Christian congregation.  Again, thinking about how we spend our time, resources, and mental/spiritual energy (thoughts and prayers), here it is:  Rolling Oaks Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a community of faith, loving God and neighbor - a place to belong, believe, and become all that God created us to be!  Now I ask you:  Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?  As we connect with others and build relationships, let's invite others to a new, bedrock, eternal identity in Christ.  Who are we?  Disciples of Christ!

Peace & Presence,

Rev. Al



Jo Elizabeth



P.S.  Please do not repost this without including the author, "Rev. Al Adams" and the name of her congregation, Rolling Oaks Christian Church, San Antonio, Texas.  Thanks.