A QUESTION OF FAITH
With Rev Helena Whittaker of St Mary’s in Hinckley OVER the Bank Holiday weekend I camped in the fields around Boughton House in Northamptonshire, for the Greenbelt festival – a festival of arts, faith and justice. I expected to hear some interesting talks, enjoy meeting up with friends and listening to music.
But what I didn’t expect were the strong emotions and challenges that I experienced listening to people who are living with severe health challenges. In our Sunday service, a woman who had never been able to attend the festival due to her ME, was able to read the Bible reading from her bed, thanks to a live link. It was wonderful to see how this meant she was able to be included and part of the service. The talk in the service was given by a young woman who lives with severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk or use her arms or hands. She spoke to us using a computer, just as Stephen Hawking does, although Becky thinks her computer voice is nicer than his! She uses her eyes to activate the sound and so speak to us. What she had to say was immensely moving, powerful and humbling. (If you’re interested type ‘Becky preaching at Greenbelt Communion Service 2017’ into YouTube!)
These experiences helped me to change the way I think. I have to confess that too often I have focused on what people cannot do – what people who are bed bound, or in a nursing home, or users of wheelchairs, cannot do. The people I listened to over the Bank Holiday helped me to change. They showed me that there is a better way – a way that focuses on what people can do, rather than on what they can’t. A grandmother living in a care home may not be able to play in the park with her grandchildren, but she can give cuddles, she can read books and talk and listen to them as they share their news. A girl unable to speak, shares smiles and laughter.
God has made each of us uniquely and specially, and loves us no matter what our health is like, or what we can do or can’t do. He loves us for the people we are, regardless of the condition of our health, or emotional well-being, regardless of whether we use a wheelchair or not. I believe that by enjoying what others can do will help all of us to see God more clearly in others, and through that we will be more open to receive His love through them.
May God bless us all as we see people as He does.