True sight

Stories | Published: June 26, 2018 | Updated: February 21, 2024

Stevie Wills, CBM Australia’s Community Education Officer shares what it feels like to be seen. Using personal experience, she teaches us where to look if we too would like true sight for those living with disability.

A substitute teacher was taking our Year 9/10 IT class.

I was sitting at a desk where there wasn’t a computer, waiting for my integration aid to bring my laptop.

I tried to explain this to the teacher, but I was shy. The teacher told a fellow classmate, who I didn’t know well, to face me.

He then told her to face him and said, “My problems are now your problems.” This man did not see me as a person. He saw me as a problem and tried palming me off to someone else – to be their problem.

To the man who saw me… thank you!

The other day I bought an anti-fatigue mat, which helps people who find standing for a long time difficult. The shop assistant answered my questions, speaking directly to me, rather than to my friend. He didn’t refer to my disability. He saw that my personal being transcended my disability.

The Jesus and Bartimaeus’ example

I’m struck by how Jesus saw Bartimaeus, apart from his disability (Mark 10:40-52).

As he was leaving Jericho with his followers, Jesus heard Bartimaeus cry out to him from the side of the road.

Bartimaeus was blind and many people rebuked him, telling him to be silent. They saw Bartimaeus as a nuisance.

But Jesus called for him. The man was clearly blind, yet Jesus asked what Bartimaeus wanted from him. Jesus saw the man, the person; his disability being peripheral. At Bartimaeus’ request, Jesus restored his sight.

The value of people

At CBM Australia, we work to empower and harness the potential of all people because we want to see people as Jesus does.

Following his example of inclusion, hope and justice, our Christian faith is founded in love and love never gives up.

Read a life-transforming testimony of someone who has been impacted by the work of CBM.

 

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