Imago Dei

In the essay, "The Spirit of God Hovered", by Steven M. Fettke, he describes the questions and thoughts that he has had throughout his life, because of his autistic child. The essay revolves around the hebrew saying, Imago Dei, which means, In God's Image. He questions whether or not we are all actually created in God's image, and if so, "in what ways is this created life a reflection of God's intentions.

Throughout this essay, I was brought to many of the same question that Steven M. Fettke has asked, such as, "just how are categories of "normal" and "abnormal" understood in the light of creation?" He explains before this quote that in society, "[by] identifying "normal" people some might refer to the regular activities of humans in "normal" relationships and communication with other humans and with all creation. However, for the disabled, especially the mentally disabled, this communication with other humans might be deemed "abnormal" because of the disability."

This really struck me hard because so many times human beings are so quick, especially within the Christina realm, to say what is the "norm" and was is not. This statement is a major thing that I have learned throughout Professor Corrigan's class. We, as society, are ignorant by thinking we are always right even when we do not have any evidentiary support to back up what we have said. But to get back on track with what Fettke said, I have come to realize that we really have no idea what the "norm" is for human conditions, so for us to alienate mentally disabled people to a category of "abnormal" human conditions is a completely unsubstantiated claim. The only "norm" is Jesus Christ and since no one on earth has meet Him, than we are to treat everyone as the same, created in Christ's image.

Another quote that really suck out to me was when Fettke expressing his feelings for the disabled. He said, " I want very much to believe the disabled are "marked" by God in their creation and are not problems to be solved." I really had to stop reading at this point and just reflect on the power of those words and as I sat in silence meditated on the difference between how God sees the disabled and how we see the disabled. Of course, I do not truly know how God sees anyone, since I am not God, but I can imagine that He sees them a lot different than we do. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to live with a brother or sister or even a child who is mentally disabled. I know, that through my human nature, I would probably get annoyed or upset with them after a certain point. However, as I sat in silence, I realized that what I see as a problem, God may see as a gift. This was hard for me to understand at first, and I still do not grasp the whole concept of my thought, but I believe that God sees these people as a possibility, a "mark" of His creation to touch lives and influence people, just as well as an evangelical pastor can. Might I add that I have never really gotten upset with a person who is mentally challenged, I was simply reflecting on how life would be if I were to live with a family member who was mentally challenged. However, the more I thought, and the more I talked to God, the more I realized that these people actually have a greater testimony than most people in our world, because of their disability and the things that they have been able to overcome. Through this, I believe that they truly are ONE with society, being "marked" right along with creation, instead of a problem needed to be solved.