Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

1474.3 How Do I Regard the One Before Me?And I am challenged to see the ones before me as they who bear themarks of a Slave, but not in terms of some form of generic classificationapplicable to all contexts but as specific to the nature of the oppression they haveexperienced and do experience in this place. I see their oppression in terms of theways in which they are regarded and treated by those who bear responsibility forthem in this place. I begin to see their marks of enslavement as unique to thosewho live here.And as I move away from the realm of generalised assumptions I amchallenged to move closer to these enslaved people so that I may see theiridentity with greater clarity, to see the marks that are not only unique to thosewho live in this place, but to each person according to their specific humanidentity and formation. And in considering the issue of human identity I amchallenged to see each Slave not purely as such but as a human being. I need tosee those marks of their being in which I can claim a shared human identity. Inmoving close, I am invited to see not just difference but commonality, not justproblem but giftedness, not just service to another but mutual regard and benefit.To see such identity-defining marks means I can no longer stand backwith others and observe with dispassionate glances, and categorize and care ingeneric form.I can no longer be the detached observer. I need to be involved with thiscontext and this human being. I need to truly engage with this realm of limitedhorizons. I need to see with clarity the inhumanity and humanity from a closer,more personal perspective. I need to move from outside to in, from uninvolved toinvolved, from detached to truly committed and engaged, engaged enough towant to make a worthy difference!I need to care, pastorally, personally. I need to care, not amidst theprecious closeness of a nearest and dearest, but nonetheless as a friend who isimmanent enough to see both the inhumanity and humanity and thus, to act justly.