Modern-Day Lepers ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We do not hear much about leprosy in our world.  Leprosy is “a contagious disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities.”   It is now primarily found in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa.

In ancient times the fear of this disease resulted in those contracting it to be banished or isolated.  This resulted in colonies of people who were ill cared for and often unloved.  Rejection, hunger, and making a living were too often daily difficulties for them.

We have modern day lepers.  There are classes and groups of people that we exile, mistreat, and reject.  We are then surprised when they rise up in anger.  We are astonished when our claim to Christ seems a shadow of what it should be as his followers.  Our quiet loveless rejection manifests into their noisy riotous rage.

Their feelings are justified.  We are guilty of not loving the fallen, the sick, and the needy enough.  We care more about the speed of the Starbucks line than we do about the hungry homeless man on the sidewalk outside.  We relegate the care of our lepers to government agencies that our taxes fund.  We embody the statements of a pre-spirited Scrooge without realizing it; “Are there no prisons?  Are there no workhouses?”

I must never lose focus on the idea that our modern-day lepers are my responsibility.  They in truth may not be lepers at all but instead labeled that way by our failure to love them as Christ does.  I am not going to pull any punches here Dear Reader.  Please travel with me as I address for my own journey what must be my positon on matters that we would rather avoid.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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