This is my story - Bear with...
Human Pyramid by danleap
‘This is my story’ is an occasional series of short devotions, based around the Bible, the experiences of Open Table members, reflection and prayer.
This month we hear from OTN trustee Peter Jones, on the barriers we face, and how we can come together to make a difference.
Reading
‘Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’
- Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)
Reflection
My phone buzzes. A notification pops up:
‘Breaking news: Massive flooding has hit Libya.’
Anger, then sadness; confusion, then guilt.
Sometimes when I don’t know how to help, I go numb. My own world is already full: work, to-do lists, church, health issues. What can I possibly do to support people in Libya when I am struggling to handle my own stuff? It feels too much.
Ever since I came out as trans, I have been encountering extra challenges to accessing healthcare. It makes me angry. The five-year (or more) waiting list; not receiving a cardiac appointment because the name on the system was wrong; my GP confusing titles and pronouns. Too many others facing the same difficulties, or worse.
Discrimination and transphobia is exhausting. Just like the wars, violence, flooding or corruption that we see daily in breaking news, it feels massive, and impossible to respond to.
Whenever I have heard Galatians 6 preached on, it’s been about personal sin. It was never about that big, systemic, ‘breaking news’ stuff. So what would it look like to bear one another’s burdens by challenging systemic sin?
For me, it’s about community organising. Citizens UK is a national organisation dedicated to listening to people’s stories and making change through organising and empowering communities. I talked about my barriers to accessing healthcare at a Citizens meeting in Leicester. A campaign ensued, focusing on finding achievable wins, such as local GPs being offered some trans-specific training.
Perhaps ‘bearing each other’s burdens’ can be about noticing the barriers in our community, supporting those affected and making small, winnable changes that chip away at bigger systemic sins. This way, we can fulfil the law of Christ by loving one another and loving God.
Reflect for a moment: what makes you angry? What issues do you feel powerless to change? Bring them before God. And maybe investigate community organising as part of the solution.
Prayer
Passionate God,
bless you for the gift of community.
Thank you that our anger is heard
and shared.
Where we have contributed to harm,
bring gentle change.
Where we witness harm,
empower us to support each other.
Bless us with rest
and bear us in love.
Amen
Author
Peter Jones (he/him) is a trustee of the Open Table Network. Peter is finishing his PhD in Human Geography and volunteers across his local area to help improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ people.
