Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 2 verses 1 through 5:
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. 4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’
For years I have given the invitation which I learned somewhere along the way for people to "walk the aisle" on Sunday morning to join the church.
But as I have become more aware of the need to respect and include all persons -- including respecting and including them in language -- and the sin of ableism and its harm to both individuals and also the Body of Christ, I am working to watch my words.
People not only walk down the aisle. They also roll down the aisle, scoot down the aisle, sometimes crutch down the aisle, and watching from the confines of their home they come down the aisle in the hearts and minds and souls.
These people matter, and the language we use to invite them matters also.
Maya Angelou said, "When you know better you do better."
We do know better. We are doing better. And we want to do our very best.
May God help us -- all.
Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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