A counterweight is anything that helps keep us upright against the strain of everything that hurts in this world and our lives. - Shannan Martin
As a special education teacher and the co-founder of Cakeable, I’ve spent most of my working life with individuals and families impacted by disability. This career was disrupted for a lengthy season in which I struggled with mental and physical disorders.
But God’s wondrous grace restored me to living alongside people with disabilities and illness, this time in the joy of working not for them but WITH them as co-members of the Body of Christ and co-laborers for the Gospel.
It’s not difficult to find narratives, news stories, and opinions which “other” and marginalize people who live with disabilities and mental illness. Ableism is still baked into our workplaces, communities, even churches. Sometimes I have to check my own heart.
The true story is that every person is made in God’s image, on purpose for a purpose. Whenever dehumanizing narratives or decisions of our leaders push against full accessibility for people with disabilities, I find that looking for and sharing “counterweights” is one way to respond. Here’s a definition of counterweight:
“A weight used to counterbalance another weight or force, providing balance and stability, and making lifting or moving loads more efficient”
Physics? Yikes - I avoided taking physics classes. But the concept sticks with me.
Purposeful, collective forces in the opposing direction can ease a load, propel a momentum shift, and uplift.
We can speak for the image of God in every human being.
We can build meaningful, mutual relationships and share stories, our personal counterweights.
This Counterweights page is a place to recognize and celebrate God’s image and His grace in our friends and neighbors.
If you have a story to feature, please let me know!
Cakeable
Cakeable is a nonprofit workforce development program in Charlotte, NC for adults who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cakeable offers vocational training opportunities in the Bakery and the Cakeable Cafe.
We envision joyful communities of belonging where every person has the opportunity to experience their God-given value and express their abilities and purpose. WE ARE CAPABLE!
Baking with Kendal!
Kendal and I became great friends as we worked together at Cakeable. Kendal was Cakeable’s first employee! Besides working at Cakeable, Kendal has a full life and loves to share the fun with people around her. We hang out and bake on Fridays! We use recipes from the Southern Living Cookie Challenge. In this challenge, we bake a cookie recipe for each month of the year.
Recipes found here. Bake along with us!