I\u2019ve heard it a lot as of late\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be a black man\u2026\u201d<\/em> You don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like.<\/em><\/p>\n Many have noted the division in this country \u2014 a division that seems to sprout in almost any societal subject, subjects that used to be solidly safe for finding conversation and common ground. While many have theories in regard to the reason, part of me wonders if the division is due to our continued proclamation that \u201cyou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n As long as we contend \u201cyou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like,\u201d we give ourselves full freedom to dismiss another\u2019s perspective\u2026 in it\u2019s entirety.<\/p>\n Let us acknowledge the wisdom of walking in a mile in another\u2019s shoes. In reality, it\u2019s true that we don\u2019t know what all of the above is like. And so when we are willing to walk in the shoes of another, we see a different perspective\u2026 a different, valid perspective. When we are willing to see that \u2014to put those other shoes on, so-to-speak \u2014 our potential for empathy increases exponentially.<\/p>\n My desire is that we see the \u201cyou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like\u201d not as a unending, wounding source of division, but rather, as an avenue for empathy.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get a little more personal\u2026 I am the parent of a son with Down syndrome. That means that he is at a significantly higher risk for hearing loss, sleep apnea, ear infections, eye disease, heart defects, intestinal blockage, hip dislocation, thyroid disease, anemia, iron deficiency, leukemia, blood disorders, Alzheimer\u2019s, a lower life expectancy, and as most know, a significantly lower IQ. The list goes on.<\/p>\n In fact, as many are also aware, Joshua was born with a congenital heart defect; he was missing most of the wall in his heart where the two flaps come to meet. Prior to scheduled surgical repair, however, he came down with a serious respiratory virus which threatened his life. We spent most of March 2002 in the cardiac ICU wing, praying to God to heal our son, as we watched him lay fairly motionless, the respirator breathing for him. That was an incredibly challenging, painful time.<\/p>\n Now, since only 1 in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome, that means 699 of you cannot relate to what we experienced. You don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like.<\/em><\/p>\n But if I choose to fiercely adhere to you not knowing, then I will miss other aspects that you have the potential to offer\u2026<\/p>\n Support. When Josh laid motionless in that hospital, I needed support, respect, and community. I needed the physical help, emotional encouragement, and spiritual support of the people around me. I needed the countless number of people who didn\u2019t \u201cknow what it was like\u201d but still chose to be present\u2026 who brought us meals, filled our thermos, cared for our other kids, gave us a break, cleaned our house, and offered fervent, selfless prayers on behalf. I needed those people\u2026 all \u201c699\u201d of them.<\/p>\n Rather than see our lack of knowing what it\u2019s like as source of division, it seems so much wiser and beneficial to view such as an avenue for empathy \u2014 a way through which we can build authentic community. That is so much healthier than division.<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 I\u2019ve heard it a lot as of late\u2026 \u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be a black man\u2026\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be gay\u2026\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to grow up with only one parent\u2026\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be adopted\u2026\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s … <\/p>\n
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be gay\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to grow up with only one parent\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be adopted\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be divorced\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to have a disability\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to lose a child\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be a woman\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to experience chronic pain\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to not be able to make ends meet\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to file for bankruptcy\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be bullied\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be fired\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to be in combat\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cYou don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to watch your best friend die\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRespect.
\nCommunity.<\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"