More from Rich Dixon:

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Last time I left you with two questions.

Who’s them…and us? Who’s handicapped…and able-bodied?

I believe these questions cut much deeper than physical impairments.

I obviously face a unique set of physical challenges. But words have incredible power to shape our attitudes. Description becomes perception, and perception becomes reality.

Handicapped, disabled, physically challenged – what should others call me? Personally, I prefer “Rich.”

I’m not a wheelchair. My friend with MS isn’t a disease. My former student with impaired sight isn’t a white cane. We’re people with strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else. Why must we segregate individuals by labeling them as “special,” pretending others are “normal”? Does the label imply most folks aren’t special, or they don’t have needs, or their needs aren’t special?

What’s “normal?”

When my car operates normally, it’s performing as the designer intended. Which of us operates as God intended when He designed us?

Apparently, the only “normal” person who ever lived was Jesus. The rest of us are broken, not meeting design specifications.

My physical impairment is visible. I deal with it daily. But what about my spiritual impairments – do I confront them as readily? Am I guilty of labeling others with “spiritual special needs” as though I’m somehow in a better category of sinner? Do I pretend that my flaws are somehow “normal”?

God doesn’t see me as a category. Each of us is a unique, precious individual in His eyes. Each of us falls short of the glory for which He designed us, and each of us is so special that He sent His Son to restore us to full operating capacity.

I too often divide the world into us and them.

When I draw those sorts of lines, I believe Jesus walks behind me with an eraser.

What labels do you use to draw lines?

(The picture shows a small number of the group that shared this amazing conversation. Next time we’ll talk about the woman on my bike.)