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The Concept Behind This Blog
This is a blog devoted to Christian devotional thoughts on disability and disability-related themes and issues. I had originally envisioned such a collection of disability-related devotionals as taking the form of a book–and that may yet happen one day. But the more I thought about it, the more the flexibility of the blog as a medium for a foray into this subject matter. In this blog, I, along with a co-blogger or two (STAY TUNED) will reflect on the way in which a Biblical Christian worldview impacts (or should impact) the way in which we view, and react to, our own disabilities and/or the disabilities of others.
Some readers (especially those who don’t know me :-)) may be somewhat quizzical and/or apprehensive about my use of the words "Crips" and "TABs" in the title. I would therefore like take the opportunity at the outset of this book to address the questions head-on. People with disabilities sometimes use the word "crip" to refer to themselves. For many people in the disability community, the word "crip" is a pro-active reclaiming of the word "cripple," a word which has accumulated many negative connotations over time. There is undeniably a certain edginess inherent in the word "crip," an edginess which may cause some to question the appropriateness of using the word "crip" as a central concept in a blog containing Christian devotions. In response to such objections, I would simply point out that Jesus himself exhibited a similar edginess throughout his earthly ministry, in terms of telling things the way they were. This kind of edginess is also inherent in the use of the acronym TAB, which stands for Temporarily Able-Bodied. Thus, to refer to oneself, or someone else, as a TAB is to highlight the temporariness of able bodies (and minds). If TABs live long enough, they, too, will become crips. This is an uncomfortable concept for some people in that to use the term TAB is to acknowledge the temporariness, not only of abilities, but also of human life itself. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:1-4 NIV). This business of "tenting" is oftentimes arduous for crip and tab alike. My prayer is that the scriptures and reflections in the posts that follow may be an encouragement, no matter what kind of condition your present tent happens to be in.
Heidi Janz, CP (living with Cerebral Palsy) & PhD (stubborn enough to go to university for 18 years :-))
A Word About Word-Choice
Some readers (especially those who don’t know me :-)) may be somewhat quizzical and/or apprehensive about my use of the words "Crips" and "TABs" in the title. I would therefore like take the opportunity at the outset of this book to address the questions head-on. People with disabilities sometimes use the word "crip" to refer to themselves. For many people in the disability community, the word "crip" is a pro-active reclaiming of the word "cripple," a word which has accumulated many negative connotations over time. There is undeniably a certain edginess inherent in the word "crip," an edginess which may cause some to question the appropriateness of using the word "crip" as a central concept in a blog containing Christian devotions. In response to such objections, I would simply point out that Jesus himself exhibited a similar edginess throughout his earthly ministry, in terms of telling things the way they were. This kind of edginess is also inherent in the use of the acronym TAB, which stands for Temporarily Able-Bodied. Thus, to refer to oneself, or someone else, as a TAB is to highlight the temporariness of able bodies (and minds). If TABs live long enough, they, too, will become crips. This is an uncomfortable concept for some people in that to use the term TAB is to acknowledge the temporariness, not only of abilities, but also of human life itself. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:1-4 NIV). This business of "tenting" is oftentimes arduous for crip and tab alike. My prayer is that the scriptures and reflections in the posts that follow may be an encouragement, no matter what kind of condition your present tent happens to be in.
Heidi Janz, CP (living with Cerebral Palsy) & PhD (stubborn enough to go to university for 18 years :-))
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