Seeing Ability in Every Person
We spent a morning watching the Paralympic Para Swimming competition in Singapore. It was more than just a sporting event; it became a classroom for the heart.
The first lesson came quickly. Every person carries both abilities and disabilities. Some are visible—missing limbs, limited movement. Others remain hidden—sight that is fading, hearing that is gone, conditions that don’t show. What struck us most was how normal it all felt once we looked closer. These athletes were not to be pitied or feared. Like us, they were made in the image of God, simply enjoying the sport He created. The experience nudged us to treat everyone with the same dignity, seeing beyond appearances.
Wrestling with Fairness in a Broken World
The second lesson was about fairness. Para swimming has detailed classifications to match athletes by their abilities. For instance, S11 is for swimmers who are totally blind. To keep competition fair, they wear blackened goggles so even those with partial sight compete equally.
Yet as we watched, we realised human effort can only go so far. Some races paired swimmers with no arms against those with one or two. Other times, the difference was in the size of a limb or the way a stroke could be executed. Sometimes there simply weren’t enough athletes to form separate categories. Despite best intentions, perfect fairness remained out of reach.
This tension reminded us of something bigger. No matter how carefully rules are written, the world stays imperfect. It is a broken creation where complete justice can’t be secured by human design.
The Power of Loving Community
Our third lesson came through the quiet heroes on the pool deck. Blind swimmers depend on “tappers,” volunteers who signal with a gentle tap when it’s time to turn or finish. These tappers train with the athletes, learn their rhythms, and commit for the long haul. Their consistent presence is an act of sacrificial love.
Watching them challenged our own comfort. Loving like that takes time and perseverance. Yet it’s the kind of love that sustains community and gives every athlete—no matter their disability—the chance to thrive.
How the Gospel Reframed Our View
Reflecting on that day, we see more than sport. We see a world that longs for wholeness. We see our own hearts, quick to label, eager for fairness yet unable to achieve it.
The gospel speaks directly to these longings. Jesus entered our broken world to make all things new. His death and resurrection promise a future where justice and mercy meet perfectly, where every tear is wiped away, and where every person finds their true worth in Him.
This changes how we live now. Instead of fearing difference, we embrace people as fellow image-bearers. Instead of despairing over unfairness, we place our hope in Christ’s final restoration. Instead of loving when convenient, we lean on His love to serve faithfully.
That day by the pool left a quiet imprint: only in Jesus will every race be perfectly fair, every community perfectly whole, and every life seen for the beauty God intended.