The Handicap Zone

Luke 14:13-14 – But when you give a banquet or a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), because they have no way of repaying you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (upright). (AMP)

Once again, we had to drive to a far corner of the parking lot. There were no spaces near the door. I manoeuvred his walker out of the trunk and set it up for his use. Then we slowly worked our way toward the building.

Ontario has a law that requires parking spaces to be set aside for people with special needs. These spaces are at a premium. Oddly, much as Ron needs to use them, most days they are unavailable. Thankfully, my hubby, recovering from hip replacement surgery, has to use his handicapped-parking sticker for only about six months. Other people aren't so blessed. Their parking stickers will last for a lifetime.

Is the world besieged with the disabled? No, not at all. Able-bodied people like us are taking up all the spaces. We tell ourselves that our little errand is much more important than anyone else's. We rationalize this by vowing to be in the store only for a minute. To a person in a wheelchair, a minute can seem like an hour.

We have opportunities to show Jesus to people every day. Let's take advantage of them.

James 2:14-17 – What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (NRSV)

Prayer: Lord, forgive us. We have taken it upon ourselves to judge who is worthy of Your love and our kindness. We have been so wrong. Help us to see Your worth in everyone. Give us the gumption to walk an extra few feet so that someone else may be blessed with a little freedom. Amen.