I was sick, and you visited me.

• Defining “normal” as being created in God’s image.

            At first, I didn’t quite agree. But what if being created in God’s image is the standard of normal? Then being sub-average or above-average is up to you. It’s up to the percentage of your possible effort you put out. It becomes about the choices you can make, and the life you choose to leave. This takes away judgment based on ascribed statuses, and that a beautiful thing because it creates a righteous base line of equality among all people.

            Fettke states that “it seems very unjust to single out the disabled for their inability to adjust their embodiment.” I agree, in a way. After all, this paper is about them and how we can create and expand ministry to accommodate them, but I don’t think that detracts from the point being made. Singling them out as less deserving of assistance would be the crime as far as I see it.

• Should a sound mind and body be part of the definition of personhood?

            God forbid! If we believe that all humans are created by the Spirit in the image of God, then obviously not! The disabled deserve as much as they can handle. To consider them beneath personhood seems like it would be insulting to God.

• Can the disabled be “healed” by others’ acceptance of who they are?

            I think, in a way, yes. They do indeed have irrefutable disadvantages for living, but I would argue that most of the prominent issues they face are based on discrimination. Now, of course, treating them as if they don’t have a disorder is even more unjust, but treating them differently beyond helping them is wrong. Loving and supporting those who assist them doesn’t heal them, but I feel it does alleviate some of the worse symptoms.

• “The mentally handicapped . . . were the crack I desperately needed to give concreteness to my critique of modernity.”

            Mmm. Perhaps our perspective of everything is partial without some understanding of how the mentally handicapped are. Maybe we’re a little blind without them. This alone helps me to feel a little more uplifted about the idea of spending time with them during tomorrow field trip.

            I think Fettke is discussing a topic of true importance. Though I’m not sure where I stand on how we should reach out to them, I know it would be on Christ’s “to-do list.” I went to look up the verse where Jesus says, “Whatever you do for the least of my people, you do for me.” and I saw that it was actually the verses the Fettke mentions in his paper. Rightly so. It also says, “I was sick, and you visited me.” Regardless of where your mind is, if that doesn’t put you heart into this field trip, I’m not sure what would.