The Folly of Equal and Fair
Years ago I taught a student with diabetes. He had a daily regimen of blood sugar checks and insulin shots. Though difficult, this child never complained and met each day with smiles and optimism. As I like to say, “He carried extra sunshine in his pocket so he could share.” His classmates often expressed concern that pain and discomfort awaited when friend X stepped outside with the nurse, but they understood without this health support, X would become extremely sick and possibly die. No, teachers don’t broadcast this info, children’s inquisitiveness causes them to seek answers to unknowns. Its actually very hard to hide reality from a child.
A ruckus erupted one afternoon when a small toy was excavated from the playground sandbox. The little guy that unearthed the treasure wanted to keep it, another child insisted it was their lost belonging. I do not possess the wisdom of Solomon or the discernment it took to judge accurately….. and it was Friday afternoon…..and I just wanted to get on with Science….. and we have rules about bringing toys/distractions from home….. and so……I said, “I will just put it away until I figure out what to do.” Both children burst out, “That’s NOT FAIR!!!” And thats when I burst out, “Well it’s not fair that ‘X’ has to get a shot all the time. Let’s line up. We’ll all go get a shot and be fair!”
This was a huge teacher fail, magnified the next week when the school nurse came to the door and asked me to take my class to her office so she could do required vision and hearing screenings. The flames of panic swept across the classroom as my students concluded that in all fairness, everyone would begin their daily shots. At that moment, we learned that fairness is as far fetched as the Easter Bunny.
The most prevalent given in humanity is inequality. I am the second child, but the oldest daughter. Some days I was out ranked by an older brother, other days I did the out ranking because I was the oldest sister. (The possibility of bullying is strongly probable, but that is a blog for another day.) Even within my loving family, inequality existed and fairness was difficult to achieve. The objective was not to treat everyone the same, but to provided all we needed to the highest degree of generosity possible.
The ultimate injustice was a sinless man, Jesus, accused, found guilty and executed for the transgressions you and I commit. Why did He submit Himself to this? Because our only equality is our sinfulness and need of grace. The question of fair was never discussed between Jesus and His father. I’m sure of it!
God’s Word, His model and His relationship to man show He alone is able to exact perfect justice (fairness and equality). John 13:16 states, “Very truly I tell you no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” Verse 13 says, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!!!”
The body of Christ is the living, active being on earth, that is called to reflect the perfection of God. Jesus taught us to pray, “On earth as it is in Heaven.” If we are going to say it, ask it, wish for it, then we must do it. Mankind is not equal, we are diverse. Equality is a gift we give one another because we are all sinners saved by Grace. Practice equality, LOVE ONE ANOTHER and fairness will become irrelevant.
Love,
Gretchen