Blog #2 Reflective- Cathedral

“I’m always learning something. Learning never ends. It won’t hurt me to learn something tonight.” (Cathedral page 679)

While I was reading the story, Cathedral, I began to wonder what this story was really about. At first, I thought this story was maybe about how much this man hates his wife or is jealous for her and her friendship with the blind man. “Right then my wife filled me in with more detail than I cared to know.” (Page 673) As the story progressed, I quickly changed my mind when I began to notice that this story was more about dealing with people that are very different from you. “I’ve never met, or personally known, anyone who was blind.” (Page 675)

The narrator of this story has never personally known someone who is blind; therefore, he wouldn’t know what to say or how to act around someone that is blind. I know that most people would say “Well, just be you because he is a normal person, only he can’t see what others can see.” This is much easier said than done. I can definitely sympathize with the narrator.

In the beginning of this school year, I was hanging around some new friends, one of which is blind. I have always grown up knowing and even accepting others with disabilities but this was the very first time that I was worried and even afraid of hanging around someone that was blind. I wasn’t sure how to act or how to even speak around him. It seemed like everything that came out of my mouth dealt with being able to see, whether it was watching movies/TV or even the scenery. If that wasn’t bad enough, everyone else in the group seemed to be acting perfectly fine. I struggled with this for quite some time but by the end of it I learned a valuable lesson.

It’s okay to not know how to act around a certain person at first, especially if they are different from you and have never been around a person that has a disability. But it’s not okay though to ignore them, not give them a chance and to act like they are an “untouchable”. The only way that you will overcome your struggles is to be their friend and to learn.

The narrator did the correct thing. He allowed his wife’s friend, who was blind, to come into his home and visit with him. Although he wasn’t sure how to act, he wanted to support his wife and make her happy. We see on page 673 that he had suggested to take the blind man bowling even though most of us figure that blind people wouldn’t be able to bowl. He made an attempt.

When the blind man, Robert, finally did show up, the narrator offered to get him drinks numerous times. Instead of the narrator, leaving the room or ignoring the conversation, he sat with Robert and joined in the conversation every once in a while. “For the most part, I just listened. Now and then I joined in. I didn’t want him to think I’d left the room, and I didn’t want her to think I was feeling left out.” (Page 676)

By the end of the story, we see the narrator and the blind man talking and drawing a cathedral together. We might conclude that the narrator and the blind man began a friendship that night.

This text can affect us personally because it teaches us that although people are different from us, we need to accept them and learn from them. We are never too old to learn and we always learn each and every day. “Learning never ends.” (Page 679)

Blog #1

Dear Narrator,

I just wanted to let you know that I know exactly what you are going through. I have a sister, named Nicole that is very similar to Sonny. Although our parents didn’t pass away while we were growing up, we did go through our own struggles. Our eldest sister, Julia, was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was just nine years old. Since my dad had to continue working full-time and my mom spent most of the days in the hospital with Julia, my sister Nicole was forced to stay with a family in our church so she wouldn’t miss school. My parents also thought that this would give Nicole a sense of a normal childhood and life but this left my sister feeling rejected and lonely. She felt like Sonny- she needed someone to listen to her. Nicole turned to singing as her way of relieving the pain, stress, and she thought that if no one else would listen to her, then they would certainly listen to her singing.

Nicole would sing continually and even enter into competitions but then she realized that no matter how hard she was trying no one was listening to her. They were simply hearing her- not listening to her. Of course, I was the little annoying sister to Nicole and didn’t pay much attention her. She may have tried to talking me, searching for someone to listen to her even if it was her baby sister, but I pushed her away. I didn’t give her the time and the attention that she needed.

Nicole, just like Sonny, made some horrible choices in her life and this is when I started to listen to her. I didn’t realize how much she needed someone to just listen to her. I didn’t realize how important it was to have someone to listen to you until she showed me.

I know it isn’t easy to listen but you have to listen to Sonny. It certainly wasn’t easy for me but when I stopped being ignorant and I started listening, Nicole started making some better choices. She still isn’t perfect but it’s a start.

I applaud you for taking Sonny into your home and for going to hear him play the piano. If it’s anything like my sister and I, you and your brother will have a bond that will not be broken. I hope that the story that I shared with you will help you and encourage you. Keep listening to Sonny and keep encouraging him to follow his dreams. I have faith in you as well as in Sonny.

 Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                              Brooke Rice

What Am I Living For?

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that I was called into ministry, especially missions. I have been inspired by the great Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, and other inspirational speakers. Being completely surrounded by and inspired by these great leaders, I have always strived to be just like them. They have been helping person after person for years. I don’t necessarily want to be on television like these two pastors but I do want to be known as a strong Christian who always rejoices in suffering, who always generously gives to those in need, who humbly does the unwanted jobs, and an effective leader to those around me. At my funeral, I would like them to say that I was an amazing wife, mother, daughter, and sister because I followed 2 Timothy 4:7. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” More than anything, I want the mark that I leave behind in this world to be that I kept the faith, I served God with everything that I had, and that I served the people around me just the way that I would have wanted to be served if I was ever in need.