So first off, I apologize for my tardiness on blogging this month. Our schedule has been very busy as well as not having WiFi readily available to us. Ministry kept us very busy, which I am honestly so thankful for because it gave me an opportunity to be challenged to be dependent upon God for strength, energy, a joyful spirit and so much more.
My team, Free to Be has been working at ‘Camp Hope Foundation,’ (click the name for the hyperlink to the website) a camp for mentally and physically disabled individuals. Many of the individual’s ages range from mere children to being young adults and adults in their 20’s and 30’s. They have problems such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, some are deaf and others mute, and some have severe mental problems due to atrocious treatment when growing up. These are only the most well-known disorders to be present in the children, with so many others present as well. Camp Hope, works with showing love to these people and to help them overcome their disabilities in any way they can. This involves teaching motor skills: how to dress themselves, use the bathroom, clean dishes, and other simple skills.
A blunt statement that I have been opened up to is that they are people. They have personalities that are wonderful, joyful and loving. Just because they cannot function in the same ways I can does not mean they do not try. It does not mean they are any less than I, in fact, they may be more. It is so incredible to see individuals who cannot do many things, are plagued by different illnesses and diseases and yet have such awesome personalities. They express such joy and intelligence despite their illness. Many people who are retarded or otherwise affected by an illness out of their control are put in a box of that illness. I am just as guilty as anyone else of this act. I have heard it said before that individuals with retardation, cerebral palsy or other such severe illnesses are not defined by their problems. I’m sad that it took this long to realize but I truly believe this now and am so grateful for its revelation.
An example story: While brushing the teeth of Jefferson, a guy with autism as well as mental retardation, I began to smell and see unpleasant things. Jefferson was fighting against me, not letting me brush his teeth sufficiently. Yet, I was expected to change the clothes that he had thrown up all over. All I was trying to do was help him, and I felt like he wasn’t letting me. I just wanted to try to love him and he was making things difficult. But he couldn’t help it. Yet, when music plays he is the first to get up and dance with everything he’s got. While half his body is essentially paralyzed, he does not let it hold him down. He loves people waving at him and just recognizing his presence. Such simple things in life bring him such joy and he never gets tired of it. It warms my soul.
I began to consider how God, in sending his Son to save us and giving us his Word, was only trying to help us, to love us. He just wants us to be able to receive his love and be joyful in his presence. Yet, we fight against him. We make things difficult because we CHOOSE to act in our own self-interest. We CHOOSE to live in sin instead of in the love of God.
How pathetic did I feel when I realized how much greater was Jefferson than I. That he could not help that he was fighting against me. Yet, most of us choose to fight against God; against his will and love for us. Yet, even still God loves us more than we can imagine. I look for joy in things of the world and get tired of them and move on so quickly. Jefferson reminds me that my joy should most definitely come from the Lord and that it will never fail me or get old. To give my all in thanks and praise to the Lord like Jefferson, like King David, without shame or fear. To have childlike faith.