I’m reading Amy Kenny’s My Body Is Not A Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church. Kenny isn’t clear about her own disability or medical condition, but she tells us she has difficulty walking and one of her legs is frequently in pain. In her introduction, she talks about a conflict she feels about a desire to keep silent, so no one will dismiss her pain (a frequent occurance, especially by doctors, she notes), and a desire to scream out and attest to the difficulties of her experience.
This reminds me of Facebook, where people mostly post happy times, happy memories. Happiness can distort our view, just like pain does. Somehow it’s easier to believe that everyone else is happy and we’re the only one in pain. However, most people are in some pain most of the time. While we don’t need to have daily communal pity parties, it’s important to acknowledge that the pain exists as part of the normal course of life. Sharing the pain helps us to know that we’re not alone. When I listen to another’s pain, I can grow in holy charity.
This reminds me of Facebook, where people mostly post happy times, happy memories. Happiness can distort our view, just like pain does. Somehow it’s easier to believe that everyone else is happy and we’re the only one in pain. However, most people are in some pain most of the time. While we don’t need to have daily communal pity parties, it’s important to acknowledge that the pain exists as part of the normal course of life. Sharing the pain helps us to know that we’re not alone. When I listen to another’s pain, I can grow in holy charity.