The Different Person Canon Graeme Winterton at Holy Trinity Kew - Epiphany 3 - 22nd. January 2017
Gospel: Matthew 4:21-40 & Mark 1:40-45 1 PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT.
I was confronted by a disturbed man at the Eastland shopping centre. He was unshaven, with unkempt long hair and ragged, dirty clothing. He was angry, loud, abusive and gesticulated wildly. People moved around and away from him. He disturbed everyone, and I admit to being disturbed too. A sense of collective relief was tangible when security oficers arrived on the scene to control the situation. 2. AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE 'DIFFERENT PERSON' IS MORE FREQUENT THAN WE REALISE
Most of us learn through experience to cope with varying degrees of what we may consider 'out of the ordinary factors" which occur in people we meet. • For example, someone whom we may regard as extreme – too loud - too quiet too religious - weird in dress, attitude or habit. • The disabled, or to use a politically corrrect term, 'mentally challenged persons' on a group outing with carers. • A meeting face to face with the terminally ill and the bereaved. • Differences in race and culture, and skin colour. By and large most of us accept differences and seek to treat others with dignity and respect and recognise that what one may consider "different"may well be thought of as 'normal' by another.) 3.
HOWEVER, THE 'DIFFERENT PERSON' WHO TAKES US OUTSIDE OUR 'COMFORT ZONE' USUALLY AROUSES TENSION WITHIN US.
Our responses are usually spontaneous for the different person touches our emotions, memories and feelings: Fear often dominates because fear of of the unknown arouses the possibility of violence and of being hurt. The arrival of a Bikie gang at the place where we were staying on holiday conjured up the same concern - Unspoken fears surfaced. How will they behave? Will something happen? Will it affect me? •
Page 1