I had a pain flair up this week and today was an especially bad pain today so I was using my cane. Walking home from work I was stopped by two young people who asked me what was wrong with my leg (ie: why I was using a cane.) This was a very invasive question, but Iām an open person so I explained I have chronic pain from a back injury.
I had a feeling I knew what was coming next and a glance at one of their shirts (something about Jesus) confirmed it. As I suspected, they asked me to join them in praying for me. While they were very polite, other than the invasive question about my disability, I was not interested in praying with them. I said āThank you, but no thank you,ā then said goodbye and continued my walk home.
Firstly, itās extremely invasive to ask a disabled person whatās wrong with them! Iāve had curious children ask questions about my cane before, but past a certain age itās very rude. If youāre not my doctor who needs to know the specifics of my disability to treat me, an HR person providing accommodation, or my immediate family and close friends phrasing the question to express genuine concern, you are not entitled to details about my disability. Do Not ask as disabled people this!
While I understand that their religion is important to them and probably brings them comfort and they want to share that feeling with others, not everyone shares their religion or finds the same comfort in religion. In theory asking for consent to pray for someone seems like a good idea, but not everyone is comfortable having people pray for them. If it makes someone feel better to pray for me then fine, do whatever clears your conscience, but Iād rather not know about it.
Has anyone else in the disabled community experienced this? If so, how did you feel about it?
