Being Who We Are
Psalm 139:14 (New International Version)
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
"I glanced to see a brindle dog of an interesting lineage. The dog was running with an odd lope. Then I saw that his back right leg was missing. Gone. His gait was an adaptation for his disability... He glanced back, like something was chasing him, and I swear he smiled. Then he disappeared down an alleyway and was gone... I loved the fact that his 'dog-ness' was not even slightly compromised even though he was missing 25% of his legs. Sure, he'd adapted for the loss physically but psychologically, he was still just a dog. It was beyond cool."
Dave Hingsburger--Chewing the Fat, May 7th 07 blog address: http://www.davehingsburger.blogspot.com/
Frances' voice coming over the phone was full of excitement. "Did you read Dave's blog about the dog?" she asked.
Dave writes a blog on disability issues that I look forward to reading daily, so I knew the story she was referring to, part of which I've included above. It was about an animal who was still a fun loving dog, despite being three legged.
"That's me," she said, "I've realised that my "handicaps" don't change who I am in the Lord--fearfully and wonderfully made--I need to exist in who I am, always." Then she told me how she'd reversed the letters in the adjective Dave had used and said, "As the dog's "dog-ness" wasn't compromised by his handicap, niether is my "God-ness" compromised by mine!"
Acceptance and his identity...precious gifts God gives to us. I am convinced that he loves us both for all that we can be and for who we are--in all of our present humanity and weakness. How these both can be true is a mystery, but it's clear that it is, from God's Word, which tells us that we are "Accepted in the Beloved."
Ephesians 1:6 (New King James Version)
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
"I glanced to see a brindle dog of an interesting lineage. The dog was running with an odd lope. Then I saw that his back right leg was missing. Gone. His gait was an adaptation for his disability... He glanced back, like something was chasing him, and I swear he smiled. Then he disappeared down an alleyway and was gone... I loved the fact that his 'dog-ness' was not even slightly compromised even though he was missing 25% of his legs. Sure, he'd adapted for the loss physically but psychologically, he was still just a dog. It was beyond cool."
Dave Hingsburger--Chewing the Fat, May 7th 07 blog address: http://www.davehingsburger.blogspot.com/
Frances' voice coming over the phone was full of excitement. "Did you read Dave's blog about the dog?" she asked.
Dave writes a blog on disability issues that I look forward to reading daily, so I knew the story she was referring to, part of which I've included above. It was about an animal who was still a fun loving dog, despite being three legged.
"That's me," she said, "I've realised that my "handicaps" don't change who I am in the Lord--fearfully and wonderfully made--I need to exist in who I am, always." Then she told me how she'd reversed the letters in the adjective Dave had used and said, "As the dog's "dog-ness" wasn't compromised by his handicap, niether is my "God-ness" compromised by mine!"
Acceptance and his identity...precious gifts God gives to us. I am convinced that he loves us both for all that we can be and for who we are--in all of our present humanity and weakness. How these both can be true is a mystery, but it's clear that it is, from God's Word, which tells us that we are "Accepted in the Beloved."
Ephesians 1:6 (New King James Version)
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
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Dave