Happy “Orphan Sunday”??
November 8, 2009
Browsing the web I came across a blog proclaiming that today was “Orphan Sunday” — a day for the Church to stand up for orphans and bring awareness to their needs and adoption.
Does the name “Orphan Sunday” sound a little tasteless to anyone else but me? Maybe it’s just because I take everything a little too personally, but I found it a little offensive at first.
Why? Well, what do you think of when you hear the word “orphan”? The world has painted this picture of a skinny kid with sad eyes, Madeline or Buddy the Elf-esque, bratty, pity project, empty, detached, dirty, and unwanted. Typical responses that make being an orphan sound like you’re barely human and so desperately in need for others to save you.
Maybe I find it so offensive because in my pride I hate admitting that I am in many ways a skinny kid with sad eyes, Madeline or Buddy the Elf-esque, bratty, pity project, empty, detached, dirty, and unwanted too–or at least before I was (literally and spiritually) adopted.
The connotations of “orphan” and associated themes of adoption go far beyond Angelina Jolie and little orphan Annie. God’s heart for the orphans (in the spiritual and physical realm) is truly amazing. Maybe if I really learn to understand what “orphan” means, this day won’t sound so tasteless, I’ll understand God’s hand in my own past a little more, and my heart for orphanage ministry will be a little more Biblical.
And so here goes my attempt to try to understand it more– a blog series on different associations with orphans/adoptees than those of pity and shame. Stay tuned. You’re comments will be much appreciated 
Entry Filed under: Adoption. .
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1.
bryu | November 19, 2009 at 3:50 am
it seems as if those who were on the margins (like widows, orphans, physically impaired…) in the biblical story were called out by jesus to come into the center…going against the larger social structures of Jesus’ time~ even the temple structure placed some types of people “within” and others “without”~ i think a big part of jesus’ redemptive plan had much to do w/ his redeeming all of humanity…and jesus pointing out that “orphans” should be viewed as bearing God’s image~ this message was carried on by the early church in their efforts to save and care for orphans as infanticide was a big problem in the roman empire~
hope u’re well elana…miss u~~
2.
elanameesun | November 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm
thanks for your thoughts oppa!… i did some similar “research” for fun on the topic awhile ago …I can’t wait till I’m done with school to read more (and im a dork)!… what did you mean by “and jesus pointing out that “orphans” should be viewed as bearing God’s image”?
everyone else : I am determined to write more in the aforementioned “series”. My last semester of midterms/papers/finals are taking over for now.