[blparent] Perspective on Blindness

[Erin Rumer]

So true, love it, thanks!

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of jill
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 6:41 AM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Perspective on Blindness

I enjoyed your friend's thoughts very much.  Too bad that sort of thinking
doesn't catch on with everyone!
Jill

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 12:28 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: [blparent] Perspective on Blindness

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.
_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/jillbilly4%40comca
st.net


_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/erinrumer%40gmail.
com