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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rachel Redeemed

Good morning.

I don’t know if you have a picture of me in your head. When I hear a voice, I conjure a face… I wonder who you are ‘seeing’ as the person behind these words today. Would you see my teeth damaged in a skiing accident… maybe you would spot that my right eyelid conceals some very neat plastic surgery that corrects a droopy eyelid.

It’s fair to say, you wouldn’t see my racing thoughts, big emotions and struggles with executive function as I await a diagnosis for ADHD - like many people today, particularly women, who are exploring whether this diagnosis fits their experience.

I’ve appreciated seeing the sunflower lanyards brightening many collars; I find it a helpful reminder that I shouldn't assume everyone is like me. For one, we simply don’t know what is going on for someone else, mentally or medically.

For example, if someone has a white stick, I’d try to give extra space, or offer my seat on public transport to an elderly passenger. When we can see someone in obvious difficulty, most of us would like to respond with kindness. However, with so many folks having unseen or undiagnosed issues, I for one am not always as quick to offer grace for the interactions that test my chronically low patience. I believe how I treat people matters - whether I know their struggles or not. Maybe it just takes a moment of consideration and a willingness to wait. Who knows, that may be the very thing that I could do for someone that they needed that day.

Lord, you know our weaknesses and struggles, even experiencing the frailty of life on this earth. May we be more mindful of your compassion, and be conduits of your other-centred love, to those you have put next to us.

Amen.