the blog
Returning to the Playground
by kristen
February 23, 2010 | Culture, Faith, Life | 9 responses
“That’s a lot of purple,” I heard from the backseat of my car. I glanced across the street and saw an overweight young woman wearing the purple in question. And I cringed, both at the unfeeling comment that had been made as well as at the laughter that erupted in the backseat at the expense of this young woman.
A few days ago, someone I used to know posted a Facebook status regarding the questionable masculinity of male figure skaters. At this comment too, I cringed. But in both instances, for different reasons, I remained silent.
I was convicted of my silence yesterday when on my flight back to KC, a different overweight young woman sat a row ahead of me across the aisle. After meekly asking those already seated if she could sit next to them, she sat down, and I saw out of the corner of my eye as she attempted, and failed, to secure her seat belt, eventually letting it out to its full length, finally snapping it closed and hiding this evidence of her size underneath her in-flight reading material.
Remember being told as a child, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”? Those kids on the playground, the ones who didn’t fit in for one reason or another, they grow up. Some of them never fit in—they become the “less masculine” male figure skater or the overweight woman across the street or the one uncomfortably trying to blend in on the close quarters of a 737.
Some of us are lucky; we don’t wear our struggles, our differences, or maybe even our sins on the outside. But we’re all humans. May we be reminded that we’re all made in God’s image and give a voice to those whose visible differences make them easy targets. As Christians, silence is not an option. Instead, with grace, defend the voiceless. The easy targets. The ones who don’t blend in.
photo credit: everystockphoto.com
Good stuff. I love that you included "with grace".
Thanks Herb. I think if we respond without grace, we should instead say nothing at all.
I've been mulling this over all day – we just did "blessed are the merciful" at Thrive Church on Sunday. We had a good discussion about divine justice and divine mercy and how they seem to be the same thing – well maybe more accurately, they are inseparable and are expressed simultaneously by God.
If I were to respond with mercy in the situations you describe – what would I do? Would I confront the bully or comfort the hurting?
And I, in turn, have been mulling over your response. I'm not sure what I would change in these instances. If I had been with good friends or family, which I wasn't, I would have confronted the group somehow. In situations involving acquaintances, the waters muddy a bit for me. I want to defend the targeted but avoid coming off as a self-righteous Christian, thus preventing my words from really being heard.
Although I'm not sure if this is adequate, I think the simple answer is to always be aware of these instances, ask the Holy Spirit for help, and respond, or not respond, as seems appropriate.
Thanks Heather. And hi! Sometimes, like in the times I mentioned, I fail, but hopefully this will serve as a reminder, both to other people and myself, to always love and care for all of humanity.
This brings to mind something I wrote recently, and really shouldn't have. Thanks for the reminder.
I appreciate this so much, Kristen. I, too, have been convicted of my silence in such instances. Thanks for the reminder and for the challenge to do what is right!
Kristen, what a beautiful and poignant reminder of what it means to view others through the compassionate eyes of Christ. I've been reminded recently of the value God places on all individuals, even those who reject him. Your 'with grace" comment is perhaps the most powerful and most forgotten aspect fo what we're called to be. Thank you, you've given me a great reminder today.
Thanks Tim. It's been a reminder to me too; I only got to write this blog, after all, because I was disappointed in myself for not responding.