I came across an amazing, deep seeded writing by a very compassionate man of faith, Henri Nouwen. As I read it aloud to my sister-in-law, recently, she confessed it needed to be published, once again. I thought about it and agree, it needs to be told so others can see the wisdom - so eloquently shared - by Nouwen.
~ "One of the hardest spiritual tasks is to live without prejudices. Sometimes we aren't even aware how deeply rooted our prejudices are. We may think that we relate to people who are different from us in color, religion, sexual orientation, or lifestyles equals, but in concrete circumstances our spontaneous thoughts, uncensored words, and knee-jerk reactions often reveal that our prejudices are still there.
~Strangers, people different from us, stir up fear, discomfort, suspicion and hostility. They make us lose our sense of security just by being "other". Only when we fully claim that God loves us in an unconditional way and look at "those other persons" as equally loved can we begin to discover that the great variety in humanity is an expression of the immense richness of God's heart. Then the need to prejudge people can gradually disappear."
I re-publish this on my blog because not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something, forming an inaccurate opinion about Sophia, living, being, "other". This is hurtful. The pain runs deep as it (judgement) can be quite oppressive.
I know I am guilty of the very thing Henri writes about. I wrestle and find I spend more time (than I wish to admit) making up my own mind about people, inaccurately. The feeling that I need to sort it all out. I know that's not my how I should spend my time. May I not forget, may I continue to see and most importantly be transformed from oppression to freedom.
Hopefully, as God teaches me this lesson through living two amazing life applications, I will always be reminded of this freedom He offers.
Raising and relinquishing - both - my children in being "other" (one by adoption and one by ability) has God opened my heart and eyes to seeing differently. He wants me to be free just like my children are free to be "other".
May I see and live toward a nonjudgmental life and offer mercy instead of judgement as Nouwen provokes me and not miss the immense richness of God's heart.
