Illness and Caring For the Sick - #2

A mechanized understanding of the person eventually devalues people who are ill. We should not be surprised that some segments of our society do not value our embodied selves. In fact, many people struggle with their human limits. Dr. Nancy L. Eisland writes: "As a person with a disability, I have to face the temptation to live in my description of my body rather than the real thing regularly. Some mornings I awake to find that my body simply does not work well enough to carry me through the day's schedule. My gut reaction is to deny those limits and live as though my body is as I want it to be. Sometimes in that state, I even pray, 'God, make this %$@ body work.' I forget that I've made my peace with this body. I forget that the limits of my body have taught me more about the care of God than the bounty has done (A Living Sculpture of Certain Truths: Reverencing the Bodies in Church and Society, p 3)."

Faith communities have to live with the bodies we have. We have to accept mortal limits. Our limits are neither constant nor uniform. We don't have to be mega-hero in our society nor in our piety. Years ago we upheld notions of normality that put down whatever seemed abnormal, deviant, or different. Mid-twentieth century Catholic piety thought that persons with disabilities were specially blessed friends of God. Because they were close to God (who knew suffering), their suffering was redemptive and their intercessory prayer for others was powerful This piety isolated persons with disability.

Christian communities now struggle to find ways to include persons with disabilities. We can make peace with our bodies. We can "create cultures of piety that do not dismiss the persistent presence of unwanted pain. We must not blame or remove the suffering from our midst when they remind us that we will not achieve a painfree world. We must realize the full value and beauty of our 'damaged and powerful, ravaged and exquisite' bodies (Eisland, p 4)."

We can practice hospitality that does not patronize persons with disabilities. The October 2000 issue of Rite offers ten ways to welcome persons with disabilities.

1.Treat a person with a disability as you would anyone else. Relax when communicating. Be courteous and considerate. Use common sense. Repeat yourself if you sense misunderstanding. Ask the person to repeat herself or himself if you do not understand. 2. Address the individual, not an assistant, interpreter, or family member. 3. Treat adults with disabilities as adults.. 4. Speak at a normal rate. 5. Do not be afraid to ask questions about the person's disability. 6. Have paper and pencils around to facilitate communication. Use them when needed. 7. Allow people to do things for themselves when they want to, even if it takes longer or results in mistakes. 8. Offer assistance, but do not impose if help is not desired. 9. During all gatherings or meetings, allow time to attend to personal needs and rest. Be patient. 10. Respect the individual's personal space and auxiliary aids. Do not lean against or push a wheelchair; pet a service animal in a harness, grab an arm or hand when attempting to guide, move wheelchairs, crutches white canes or other assistive devices out of reach of a person who uses them.