Genesis 4: 2-18
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Yep, there it is, how many of you knew that from the "first family" we inherited a question of the ages. From the start we bear witness to several familia issues; favoritism, jealousy, anger and murder! One brother kills the other and is banished from the garden/home as punishment.
Whew! I am an only child - sorta kinda, so I never really had to deal with competing with other siblings. But, I was raised with a close cousin who in many ways was everything I wasn't. I learned early on how harmful distinctions made between children can leave lasting imprints on our lives. I learned early what the world thinks is beautiful, and what is ugly. I learned to compare my looks to others, always finding that I fell short in one way or another - never quite measuring up to prescribed standards that most people can't and don't live up to.
This method of establishing identifable differences feeds into the notion that some differences do make a difference as to whether or not they are celebrated or condemned. If it is determined not to meet the prescribed standard, they are exploited by the majority to subjegate and oppress the minority. Let's flip the script on this and make a concious effort to care for, expect and hope for the best for us all. We will then be able to answer the question "Am I my brother/sister's keeper?" with a resounding, Yes, I am!
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
"Am I my brother's keeper?" Yep, there it is, how many of you knew that from the "first family" we inherited a question of the ages. From the start we bear witness to several familia issues; favoritism, jealousy, anger and murder! One brother kills the other and is banished from the garden/home as punishment.
Whew! I am an only child - sorta kinda, so I never really had to deal with competing with other siblings. But, I was raised with a close cousin who in many ways was everything I wasn't. I learned early on how harmful distinctions made between children can leave lasting imprints on our lives. I learned early what the world thinks is beautiful, and what is ugly. I learned to compare my looks to others, always finding that I fell short in one way or another - never quite measuring up to prescribed standards that most people can't and don't live up to.
This method of establishing identifable differences feeds into the notion that some differences do make a difference as to whether or not they are celebrated or condemned. If it is determined not to meet the prescribed standard, they are exploited by the majority to subjegate and oppress the minority. Let's flip the script on this and make a concious effort to care for, expect and hope for the best for us all. We will then be able to answer the question "Am I my brother/sister's keeper?" with a resounding, Yes, I am!
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
I'd like to add, and get other's opinions, on this subject. As an only child, I was lead to believe that I should be spoiled and selfish. Due to those expectations, I began to develop my character as expected. It took many adult years to shake off the nostalgia that I am not any more spoiled and/or selfish than others. In fact, due to the loneliness of being an only child I give more than one would expect from most others. I feel that I am my brother's keeper, but it's a balancing act. I ask how my blog brothers/sisters take on the presubscribed character of your placement in the family? Are you really your brother's keeper?
ReplyDeleteThere is no way that I could explain how lovely and beautiful you have always been other than to say that God created many things before He or She created the Woman and therefore she was the up-grade on beauty. Every Woman is more beautiful than everything ... the time of her beauty is all that is left to discover. Look at YOU now !!
ReplyDeleteSo many thanks to you Darrell, in recognizing the beauty of God's creations, and not just women. Many times I've witnessed the sunrise, the sunset, the cloud covers, the birds nesting, the squirrels playing, but never have I marveled more than at the beauty of woman. It takes a whole man to give upgraded kudoos to that beauty!
ReplyDeleteWow Darrell, can we clone you? And yes! I completely concur that "man" was the rough draft to the masterpiece that is "woman."
ReplyDelete