Special Circumstances

On Friday morning we had the honor of visiting with Þóra (Thora) Þórarinsdóttir, the CEO of Ás Styrktarfélag, a non-profit in Ögurhvarfi striving to serve Icelanders with disabilities.  We met with staff, toured the facility, and interacted with the folks working that day.  The mission of Ás Styrktarfélag is to serve people with disabilities, primarily through meaningful work, activities, residence, and day care support.

Certainly, there are organizations and non-profits in the United States that provide these kinds of services for individuals with special needs and disabilities, but in my experience, these services contrast greatly in the quality and quantity to Iceland’s because they are secondary services.  In valuing and prioritizing independence and productivity, we (in the USA) would rather invest more in the wellbeing of those who meet our societal expectations; those who do not equally contribute to the prosperity of our society.

After lunch, we had the opportunity to meet with Hreinn Hákonarson, the pastor for prisoners in the church of Iceland.  I was astonished to learn that, in a country of roughly 330,000, there are less than 200 prisoners, or .05% of the population (in the United States, it’s roughly .7%, which is nearly 15 times higher).  

Ignoring for a moment the private/public difference, Hreinn was the first to admit that Iceland’s prison system was not perfect, but there is a cultural emphasis on human dignity.  For example, the longest prison sentence for someone who is convicted of murder is 16 years; anything longer would be a sad waste of a person’s life.  They would rather see people convicted of crimes wear angle bracelets than spend time in prison.

Lastly, on Saturday, we met with Einar Eysteinsson of the Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg, the Iceland Search and Rescue team.  In doing so we learned that the need for the ICE-SAR is closely linked to the land and culture of Iceland.  From the earliest settlers to today, the harshness of the land of fire and ice necessitates the need for the people of Iceland to support one another. 

These three visits revealed for me a deeper understanding of the interdependence between people; the wellbeing of the Icelander is inextricably connected to their neighbor.

Their capacity for a ‘normal’ life does not merit well-being. 

Their ability to be morally upright does not merit well-being. 

Their ability to live independently (or not) does not merit well-being.

What the Icelandic people know and live is this truth: the well-being of the ‘other’ is their well-being.

God, have mercy on us.  

When we fail to honor your creation.

When we fail to honor your people.

When we fail to honor your image.

Still our hearts and open our eyes

to the joy of seeing the strangers,

hearing foreign words of grace,

and honoring one another.

Amen.