 |
| Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, taken from Google Images |
If anyone needs a quick source of inspiration, finding someone who has struggled with a disability of some form is an easy choice. How can one not be inspired? I absolutely LOVE a good overcoming a major trial story (The King’s Speech is one of my favs). However, when it comes to those of us living with disabilities, I think, as much as we appreciate being the source of encouragement in facing obstacles, we still dismiss our actual influence if it only makes one feel gratitude over not having it as bad as other people. Yeah. That’s a thing. The truth is, we all have challenges. We all go through things that make us question, “God, are You real? If so, are You even listening?” And yes, as a body of believers, it is important to show how God has been faithful in our individual storms to bring comfort (see 2 Corinthians 1:4). But living with a disability and overcoming the hardships isn’t my only gift. And dissuading you from feeling the pain of your hurt, in the name of “it isn’t as bad as hers”, will not help you to grieve through the process, ask the faith-based questions that are needed, and see how God can show Himself present in your situation. Ironically, though we have IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990), and Special Education has grown in their aim to bring out the best in every student, no matter their ability level, sometimes we settle. We settle for life skills. We settle on teaching social norms. We are educating those (my mind is considering those mostly with a form of cognitive delay) in such a way where they can function in society, reasonably. We are willing to befriend people with disabilities, in an effort to be nice. But would we ever dare to be friends with them, for real? I mean - the kind of friend where there is mutual trust and having each other’s back? Most of our approach in inviting the disabled’s gifts is in a matter of self-soothing or alleviating the conscious. Back when I was still doing my internship, I had to read a book called Garden City. The premise was that work was good, and a goal in life for every human is to cultivate the world around them. Quoting the late Tim Keller, “Work is rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in general, and people in particular thrive and flourish.” The author, John Comer, furthermore added, “We glorify God by reshaping the raw materials of the world in such a way that, for those with eyes to see, God’s beauty and presence are made visible.” I was reading this right before doing a sub gig in a special education class, and all I could think to myself was, Am I doing enough for my students so that they are actually thriving and not just getting by? Am I actually seeking out the gold nugget that God put in them, and willing to draw it out? Have I bought into the lie that those with disabilities (more severe than mine) can only contribute to society in a limited capacity? Or, have I determined that God wouldn’t call someone with physical or mental disability, as He would call someone without? I asked these questions - being a special education teacher AND living with a disability myself. Honestly, I should know better, but even I have had my lapses where I misjudged the width of what someone could contribute based on their ability. Cripes… And yet, I don’t think God is limited by our limits. Nor does He determine our callings solely on what we can bring. Yes, His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). But He is also the one who uses the weak to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:20-29). So often we mourn over those who are disabled, because we now see their lack. We question what their futures hold. I do not mean to naively idealize that anything is possible, because “we just need to set our minds to it”. Rather, I am now reminded that God is greater than anything our stories can be written. He can do…what only He could imagine being done. So often, we determine credibility by the amount of effort, education gained, the amount of people known, and the experience lengthened. But God seems to get more glory when the credibility doesn’t seem to fit. God used a murderer to be one of the most impacting missionaries in the first century (Saul/Paul of Tarsus). He used an uneducated fisherman to introduce the Gospel and Holy Spirit to the Gentiles (Simon Peter). He used a man who struggled with depression and suicidal tendencies to strike fear into an unrighteous king (Elijah). He used an orphan girl to save a nation (Esther). In all of these examples, it wasn’t about what they could or couldn’t bring. It was a matter that God called them, positioned them, and equipped them for the work He set out for them. On the matter of those with disabilities - we must approach them in the same manner. I know a diagnosis will require a season of grief - after all, the life’s plan has upped and changed. But when the tears have come and gone, I think it’s of the utmost and imperative step to then ask God what He has up His sleeve. Ask Him what the treasure and gift the person holds. God created an entire person, and it is not only determined by their disability. He has knitted every child in the womb; He knows each one by name. And still, He chooses, and He calls. Who are we to say that God, in all of His sovereignty, could not use such ones who have a disability? And maybe in all of this discussion, this is the lesson to glean: that there are those who were disabled, and they stepped into their calling, in spite of what lack they had, not a sense of giving gratitude to a family who doesn’t have it as hard. (Can you imagine the ache in a mother’s heart knowing that some are relieved they don’t have to have her specific trials? It would hurt.) But rather, are we each willing to step into the things God has called us, no matter what lack of credibility or ability, or surmountable fears or struggles we bring to the table? It is those who have dared to go where God has sent them, in spite of threat or adversity that we find the heroes that inspire us. It was never supposed to be about proving one had a place in society; it was about becoming who God already planned that person to be and equipping them to walk it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment