大象传媒

From Ruth Scott, Anglican Priest and Quaker:

Next week I fly out to Cairo to run a workshop for a group of women whose homes are in Upper Egypt. They have challenges in their lives that I can only begin to imagine. At the end of the workshop the last time I was there, I was deeply touched by the words and actions of one of the women. She was commenting on the fact that throughout our time together, whenever we were discussing anything, I never stood over them like the other teachers, but listened at eye level, often kneeling at their feet when they spoke, giving them my full attention. This action had impacted so much upon her that as she talked about it she suddenly went on her knees before me to thank me for what she鈥檇 learnt from it about treating others with dignity and respect. It鈥檚 something I always do because I know how much humiliation at the hands of others has been part of the experience of those who come to my workshops, but it鈥檚 also very natural to respond in this way because, time and again, I find in these contexts I receive so much more than I think I give. In the face of deep trauma, the resilience and courage of these women in simply keeping on, keeping on, is awe-inspiring. I鈥檓 reminded of a friend who was the vicar of a poverty-stricken community that richer churches wanted to support. The latter were challenged somewhat when my friend said to them, 鈥淯nless you come wanting to learn from my people as much as you want them to learn from you, you will not be welcome.鈥� Not only does my friend know that charity which diminishes the receiver whilst boosting the giver is not charity, she, like me, recognises that people who suffer and struggle deeply may well understand these things far better than those whose lives have been far more fortunate. The gospels tell us that Jesus spent a lot more time with sinners and outcasts than upstanding members of the community because the former needed healing, but I also suspect he preferred their company because they had a deeper compassion and understanding than those who thought themselves altogether better.聽聽