This week's news 

This week, as we move from the Olympics to the Paralympics, we move from a celebration of perfect flesh to a celebration of imperfect flesh. Personally, as a 'disabled person' – I will return to the terminology – I feel profoundly uncomfortable, in spite of the dedication and courage which will be on show, at the prospect of what might too easily be misunderstood as parody: is there really any comparison between, say, wheelchair basketball and its 'ordinary' equivalent? Not very well hidden inside that question are terms like ‘ordinary’ and ‘equivalent’. I wonder whether we might not be better off, from our own point of view, playing to our strengths, not trying to be what we aren't.

And yet, I cannot help but admire those who feel that their personal identity depends upon overcoming the impairment which society almost uniformly turns into a disability. At one level the Paralympics is a slap in the eye for the smug and normal; it says that we will not be overlooked. In the professional world of impairment there is a never-ending discussion between those who say that integration is the answer and those who say that we only get noticed if we stay apart, identifiable recipients of what society is prepared to hand out to us, out of conscience or pity. And I wonder whether the Paralympics is a collective, defiant response to pity. But, on the other side of the coin, I wonder how far the idolisation of Paralympians will spare society the effort of treating us well all year round. So-called 'disabled people' – note, disabled by society – report that they are being increasingly vilified for relying upon social provision. I can't say this has happened to me, but I am routinely patronised and treated badly.

Reflection

One response to today's readings might be that they are all very well in their way, ranking the spirit above the flesh, but that they solve no problems. Paul in Ephesians struggles against earthly powers which fail to be just; Psalm 15 says that when the righteous cry the Lord hears them; and, indeed, Deuteronomy dwells on YHWH the liberator; and, finally, John says that the Spirit quickens the flesh: all of which is good news for the down-trodden but, apart from the entry ramp which spoils the architectural aesthetic and the odd volume of large print, what difference does all this make in our Christian communities? In a democracy, after all, we are not struggling against the earthly powers, we are the earthly powers, with more capacity for changing the world than any other generation in history. 

If our first thought when we see a severely impaired person is that we want to avoid being like that at all costs, is our reaction one of revulsion, pity or solidarity? The first reaction is perfectly explicable in a body-obsessed culture where the personal aesthetic has completely overwhelmed the spiritual aesthetic; and the second reaction, of pity, is frequently misunderstood as an end point, rather than as a starting point; and, as for solidarity, it is my favourite civic virtue, but Christianity has too often conflated caring for people with loving them. Whether we like it or not, caring involves a power dynamic where the power of the carer 'does something to' the object of care. I often wonder whether my negotiating position is weakened when I ask somebody on the other side of the table to show me to the toilet. I was saddened but not shocked when I was elected to the Church of England's General Synod to find that I was badly wanted on the committee dealing with disability whereas nobody seemed to have noticed anything on my CV, including a Masters in Systematic Theology.

Because I wanted to be known for my whole self rather than because of my blindness, I refused to be typecast and never joined the committee. But now I think I was wrong; and you can find out why next week.

In the meantime, I am immeasurably comforted by the story of the Exodus and the presence of the Spirit. It is quite difficult enough having to live with a severe impairment without all the social disadvantage that is heaped on top of it.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
when we see the disadvantaged all around us
whose lot is in our hands,
may we transform our pity into care
and our care into love
so that we see the image of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
in all people, regardless of their physical and mental impairments. 

Amen.

Questions

• What is the difference between disability and impairment?
• What is the difference between pity and compassion?
• Does idolisation of people with impairments spare us 7/24 solidarity?
• What do you think of Exodus as a liberation story?

Action

Go to the website of the Paralympic Games and find out as much as you can about the Games. The Games open on 29 August so there is still time to plan a celebration with someone else. The site offers a variety of suggestions. Or perhaps you could research a particular sport. The site offers a series of information boards about each of the sports featured in the Games.

Young People

Look at the Young Leaders section of the Paralympics website and see what you think of it.

Kevin Carey was born blind and is the Chair of the RNIB Group; a novelist, a poet and a religious writer.  He is a Church of England Reader in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex and was a Member of the Church of England General Synod 2005-10.  Kevin's Christian resources can be found on his website Jesus4u. 

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