Stop for a minute and consider all that you’ve done so far this day. Go ahead, close your eyes. What came to mind? Did you think of your morning routine? How about your day at work? Any accomplishments that stood out? What about a meal you had? A conversation on the phone? Interaction with family or friends?
Now, let’s try again. This time, get more specific. Close your eyes and try to visualize the steps your feet have taken throughout the course of your day. Think about how your legs and feet moved from one activity to the next. Would it be fair to say that you take your mobility for granted? Most of us don’t recognize that even the smallest tasks require much from our feet and legs. The reality is that tens of millions of people around the world have limited or no use of their lower extremities.
As we think about this, it should not invoke in us a sense of guilt. Instead, it might simply bring about an awareness that comes when we put ourselves in the reality of another. True empathy paints a picture that steers the focus away from ourselves and provokes a new response. What’s yours?
Prayer Points:
- That true empathy would increase for the population with disabilities.
- That opportunity would arise for greater interaction between those with and without disabilities.
- That individuals without disabilities would not take for granted their mobility and would use it to benefit others.
Zechariah 7:9-10, Matthew 9:35-37, Psalm 145:8-10
