Orthodox Biz Blog

Feb 27

2008

The Trouble with Normal

Posted by Seraphim Danckaert in theology, OCN

A few months ago I was working in a soup kitchen. One client—we’ll call her Kathy—had a glazed look in her eyes. I tried to talk with her, but she was in her own world. If you have ever had the joy of working at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, you have met individuals like Kathy; people who, for whatever reason, can’t communicate coherently with others.

The Orthodox tradition recognizes numerous saints of a certain type: Fools for Christ. These individuals, like Kathy, had difficulty relating to others “normally.” Yet the Church in her holy wisdom found it appropriate not only to accept such individuals, it actually recognized them as truly saintly men and women, inspired by God.

This raises the question: what, according to our faith, is “normal"?

Read the rest of this article by Brad Borch by downloading this week's Come Receive the Light Study Guide.

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I'd have to say normal is really a big question mark!
written by Glen Chancy, February 28, 2008

My daughter has Sensory Processing Disorder - SPD for short. She is 3 years old, but is delayed in many developmental areas. In some, she is even a full year behind. Because she can react inappropriately for a child her age, we often get strange looks from people around us. She doesn't 'fit in.' But she is vivacious and she loves icons and church and prayers and making the sign of the cross. She is more spiritual than our 6 year old. She may never 'fit in' with normal society, depending on how severe her adult condition is. But then again, she may be a nun who achieves great things spiritually. Who can say? She sees things differently that 'normal' people, and that able to see differently may be what is required for true spirituality.

"I am normal"
written by pyotr, March 05, 2008

I've wise cracked for years "I am normal. If you had grown up like me, you'd be normal too."

And "normal" and "average" are not the same. That is to say, a normal human can run a mile with little difficulty; that the average American can't walk to the end of the block without a rest does not change that.

As for what gchancy speaks of "God grant them, - and their daughter - many years." It can be difficult dealing with the non-average. But then, each of us is "normal" in our own way.

pyotr

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