Remember that post I just did about not being a Christian social worker? Yeah. I'm rethinking that one.
I don't know what else could truly break stigma other than a perfect love that casts out all fear. Isn't that why we stigmatize people? Because we fear what we don't understand and then come up with ideas and determinations about groups of people with no solid ground to base them on?
The social work side of me keeps chanting, "Education. Educate people."
Yes. Yes and amen to education. But the fact that the vast majority of the Muslim community are not terrorists isn't stopping people from slandering them and twisting distorted and unfounded hate into their own hearts.
The more I dwell on how to go about attacking stigmas about communities or groups of people, such as people with disabilities or those who are on welfare, somewhere deep in my heart whispers,
"Love people, Lindsay. Love them deeply. Love the hated, and love those who hate."
How could I possibly construct a barrier between my love for Christ and my love for people who I'll seek justice for in my profession? I know it sounds like common sense when you say it out loud, but try being a weary, broken vessel who loves the Lord and loves justice and compassion, and working in a vocation that fights for people merely under the assumption that we have a responsibility to the dignity of humanity, and having nothing to do with Christ at all.
Recently in a post featured on The Good Women Project, a girl wrote, "I can't put fences around agape". Isn't that just beautiful?
It sounds an awful lot like something Jesus would say.
And we're called to be just like Him inside and outside of our profession, aren't we?
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
I am not a Christian social worker
I have a scenario I'd like you to mull over. It's the same type of dichotomous struggle I find myself facing each day as a Christian and as a social worker.
Please understand this scenario is fake does not reflect my actual beliefs one way or the other.
As a women of a certain faith, Jayne firmly believes that homosexuality is sinful. She is therefore, certainly against the legalizing of gay marriage as it would only serve as a societal enabler for sinfulness. Jayne believes God created men and women for marriage and does not think it is morally right for men or marry men or women to marry women. Jayne is also a social worker. She has multiple homosexual clients and shows no discrimination toward them. She has been asked to join with other social workers to D.C. in lobbying for equal rights for the LGBT community. Jayne believes advocacy for equality for all people is not only her job, but her responsibility as a social worker. At the same time, she personally believes homosexual marriage is wrong.
Again, this is a fake scenario to illustrate the dichotomy I constantly feel.
If you were Jayne, what would you do? Which part of you would win in the end? Most issues like this are complicated because they aren't just issues. They are people. Real people that social workers sit face to face with every day. We hear their stories and empathize with their pain. We hand them tissues and hold back our own tears. We make a vow for equality and are expected to uphold it.
I have certain beliefs as a Christian and certain beliefs as a social worker. Sometimes they are the same and sometimes they're at odds. Here's the thing - I do not consider myself Christian social worker. I am both and neither at the same time. It's an awfully confusing place to live.
This doesn't mean I check my brains or beliefs at the door when I walk into church, class, or work. I take all of it with me. Beliefs, logic, ethics - I wouldn't be authentic without all of it. But when the two are at odds, I am faced with an internal dilemma. As a professional, I adhere to a code of ethics. As a Christian, I assert Scripture as my ultimate authority. Saying I feel constantly pulled in 10,000 different directions would be a vast understatement.
If you ever come to my house and see a few pints of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer, you now know why.
Saving the world isn't as simple as it seems.
---------------------
Do you come across situations like this, too? Surely this happens outside of the social work arena. How do you handle it?
Please understand this scenario is fake does not reflect my actual beliefs one way or the other.
As a women of a certain faith, Jayne firmly believes that homosexuality is sinful. She is therefore, certainly against the legalizing of gay marriage as it would only serve as a societal enabler for sinfulness. Jayne believes God created men and women for marriage and does not think it is morally right for men or marry men or women to marry women. Jayne is also a social worker. She has multiple homosexual clients and shows no discrimination toward them. She has been asked to join with other social workers to D.C. in lobbying for equal rights for the LGBT community. Jayne believes advocacy for equality for all people is not only her job, but her responsibility as a social worker. At the same time, she personally believes homosexual marriage is wrong.
Again, this is a fake scenario to illustrate the dichotomy I constantly feel.
If you were Jayne, what would you do? Which part of you would win in the end? Most issues like this are complicated because they aren't just issues. They are people. Real people that social workers sit face to face with every day. We hear their stories and empathize with their pain. We hand them tissues and hold back our own tears. We make a vow for equality and are expected to uphold it.
I have certain beliefs as a Christian and certain beliefs as a social worker. Sometimes they are the same and sometimes they're at odds. Here's the thing - I do not consider myself Christian social worker. I am both and neither at the same time. It's an awfully confusing place to live.
This doesn't mean I check my brains or beliefs at the door when I walk into church, class, or work. I take all of it with me. Beliefs, logic, ethics - I wouldn't be authentic without all of it. But when the two are at odds, I am faced with an internal dilemma. As a professional, I adhere to a code of ethics. As a Christian, I assert Scripture as my ultimate authority. Saying I feel constantly pulled in 10,000 different directions would be a vast understatement.
If you ever come to my house and see a few pints of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer, you now know why.
Saving the world isn't as simple as it seems.
---------------------
Do you come across situations like this, too? Surely this happens outside of the social work arena. How do you handle it?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Baby Snatchers
When my mom suggested I should pursue a Masters degree in Social Work, I thought she was outside of her mind.
Baby snatching isn't really my thing, Mom.
Like most mothers would laugh at their clearly uninformed children in their 20's, my mom laughed enough to make me feel like I was missing out on an inside joke.
Stop watching reality TV and do some research, Lindsay. Social workers can work at schools, hospitals, non-profits, do counseling, work with children, the elderly, veterans, in substance abuse, disability, policy making - the opportunities are endless. Research. And stop calling social workers baby snatchers. It's rude.
Fast forward a few years, and now I'm fighting the baby snatcher stigma.
Usually when people ask me what I'm studying and I tell them social work, I get that, "Ohhhhh. That's nice." type of response. You know the reaction I'm talking about. I remind myself they more than likely have no idea what social work even is.
Let's just clear the air- not all social workers are baby snatchers. We don't all work for the Department of Social Services or Children and Youth Services or whatever entity that exists in your area that takes away abused and neglected children.
If you Google the definition of social work, you're going to get a million different answers. The reason you'll get a million different answers is because social workers can work in a million different capacities. What's important is the theme running throughout all these facets. Social work is a helping profession, and certainly is a profession. Social workers strive for social justice. And this social justice is not a junk drawer phrase. Social workers are advocates for real live justice. We often think of social justice only happening in third world countries, but that is not the case. Helping a homeless veteran find stable housing and income is just as much social justice as clean water initiatives in Africa.
Whether we're face to face with clients in group therapy or in D.C. lobbying for certain legislation, this always remains true: compassion for people is central.
Baby snatching isn't really my thing, Mom.
Like most mothers would laugh at their clearly uninformed children in their 20's, my mom laughed enough to make me feel like I was missing out on an inside joke.
Stop watching reality TV and do some research, Lindsay. Social workers can work at schools, hospitals, non-profits, do counseling, work with children, the elderly, veterans, in substance abuse, disability, policy making - the opportunities are endless. Research. And stop calling social workers baby snatchers. It's rude.
Fast forward a few years, and now I'm fighting the baby snatcher stigma.
Usually when people ask me what I'm studying and I tell them social work, I get that, "Ohhhhh. That's nice." type of response. You know the reaction I'm talking about. I remind myself they more than likely have no idea what social work even is.
Let's just clear the air- not all social workers are baby snatchers. We don't all work for the Department of Social Services or Children and Youth Services or whatever entity that exists in your area that takes away abused and neglected children.
If you Google the definition of social work, you're going to get a million different answers. The reason you'll get a million different answers is because social workers can work in a million different capacities. What's important is the theme running throughout all these facets. Social work is a helping profession, and certainly is a profession. Social workers strive for social justice. And this social justice is not a junk drawer phrase. Social workers are advocates for real live justice. We often think of social justice only happening in third world countries, but that is not the case. Helping a homeless veteran find stable housing and income is just as much social justice as clean water initiatives in Africa.
Whether we're face to face with clients in group therapy or in D.C. lobbying for certain legislation, this always remains true: compassion for people is central.
The road we take to get there might just look a little different.
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